Bethlehem Man Accused of Demanding Beer from Neighbor Runs from Deputies then Shatters Patrol Car Window

A Bethlehem man accused of demanding beer from his neighbor while wielding a knife kicked the window out of a patrol car following his arrest.

Joshua Andrew Barrett, 29, of 844 Briscoe Mill Road, Lot No. 28, was arrested Feb. 16, 2012, and charged with with probation violation, two counts of willful obstruction of law enforcement officers, armed robbery, criminal interference with government property and criminal trespass.

According to a incident report, a neighbor called 911 after Barrett visited his residence demanding beer and carrying a kitchen knife. When the neighbor said he didn't have enough beer to share, Barrett reportedly entered the residence and helped himself to a drink.

When law enforcement arrived at the residence a deputy spoke to Barrett, who said he was drinking at his neighbors' trailer "just getting to know them". When a deputy ran the suspect's name and birth date, it returned with an active warrant for his arrest, upon which time Barrett attempted to run. 

"Mr. Barrett said he knew he had an arrest warrant and he was attempting to get away," a deputy wrote an the incident report.

Following the attempt to flee, the deputy searched the area in front of the trailer where the resident said the weapon was and found a large kitchen knife with a black handle and a blade approximately seven inches long. According to the incident report, Barrett's wife confirmed the knife was theirs.

Barrett reportedly told deputies his neighbors were drinking at his place earlier and one of the two men threatened to sick his dog on Barrett's son. After the neighbors left, Barrett said he went to their residence to defend his son and at no point in time possessed a knife.

"He also changed his story at one point and said his neighbor grabbed his son's hand and kissed it several times, and that's why he when to the neighbors' to speak with them," the deputy wrote in the incident report.

Barrett was arrested and transported to the , where he reportedly kicked the rear window out of a patrol car before collapsing in a cell and being transported to Athens Regional Medical Center.