Crime & Public Safety
A Bronx, New York man was arrested by Franconia Township Police on felony assault charges outside the court in Lower Salford Township on the afternoon of March 20, after allegedly attempting to flee in a car, then on foot, and then violently resisting arrest, injuring three officers, according to a criminal complaint.
Police were attempting to arrest Jonser Hernandez-Mota, 25, of the 2200 block of Creston Avenue, on a warrant out of Massachusetts. No further information was provided on the warrant.
He was charged March 20 with three counts of felony aggravated assault on police, misdemeanor criminal attempt to escape, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct, according to court records.
Hernandez-Mota was arraigned the next day before District Judge Suzan Leonard on felony charges, who set bail at $5,000 cash, according to the criminal docket. As of Sunday, he was still incarcerated at Montgomery County jail.
A preliminary hearing is set for April 3 before District Judge Adam Katzman – the same court where Hernandez-Mota allegedly attempted to flee from officers.
According to the complaint, Franconia police attended the court that morning for a hearing, when officers were told by Lower Salford Township Police of his warrant. Lower Salford, per the complaint, would extradite him if he was taken into custody.
Hernandez-Mota was arriving to Harleysville District Court that morning, according to a criminal docket, for a preliminary hearing on numerous misdemeanor charges of theft, conspiracy, receiving stolen property, and prowling at night, stemming from a September 2023 arrest on in Lower Salford. A formal arraignment on those offenses is set for Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas on May 1 at 9:30 a.m., per the criminal docket. He was free on $2,500 unsecured bail in that case, per the docket.
After Hernandez-Mota was inside the court lobby for a few minutes, he walked out with two other people, claiming he needed to call his mom about the hearing, police said. Instead, they allege, he walked to a white Honda Accord parked in the lot and entered the rear passenger seat.
He told police he needed to call his mom and he knew about the warrant from Massachusetts and that he was going to turn himself in, police said.
Police warned him that he could not leave, as the two other people got into the front seats, according to the complaint. The car was started and put into reverse, police said.
Hernandez-Mota, police said, was told repeatedly to unlock the door and exit, and "he was heard in Spanish saying they should leave.” Then, police said, he unlocked the door, exited the car, and allegedly immediately tried to run past officers.
He was allegedly swinging his arms and attempting to kick officers, police said, before being taken to the ground. Police allege he resisted arrest and continued fighting with them.
In the end, three officers allegedly suffered bodily injuries from him, police said.
Hernandez-Mota is being represented by a public defender, per court records.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
This article was previously posted on the old North Penn Now site, and was republished here on April 2, 2024.
