WILMINGTON, DE — A Pennsylvania man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly fleeing from troopers and discarding a handgun during a trespass investigation Sunday afternoon, according to Delaware State Police.
Police said the investigation began around 4:30 p.m. Sunday when a business in the 300 block of Naamans Road reported seeing a man on surveillance walking around the property holding bolt cutters and expressed concern he might attempt to force entry.
According to troopers, a responding officer located a man matching the description, later identified as 40-year-old Joseph Hertkorn of Linwood, walking on Naamans Road while carrying bolt cutters.
When the trooper attempted to detain him, Hertkorn allegedly fled on foot and jumped a fence toward a nearby home improvement store, police said.
During the pursuit, the trooper observed Hertkorn discard a handgun, according to investigators.
Additional troopers responded, and Hertkorn was taken into custody without further incident, police reported.
Authorities said a subsequent search allegedly revealed drug paraphernalia, and troopers recovered a loaded handgun from a nearby wooded area.
Further investigation determined Hertkorn is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior violent felony conviction, according to police.
Hertkorn was charged with possession of a firearm if previously convicted of a violent felony, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, possession of burglar tools, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, and second-degree criminal trespass, police said.
Authorities said he was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $44,600 cash bail.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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