LORAIN, Ohio — Joseph Hengst, a 32-year-old resident of Lorain, has pleaded guilty to charges related to making threats to law enforcement officials and firefighters in Northeast Ohio.
Court records show that on Oct. 30, a report concluded Hengst was "capable of understanding" the legal proceedings against him and assisting in his defense.
On Dec. 2, 2024, Hengst appeared in court and withdrew his previous not-guilty plea, opting instead to plead guilty to an amended indictment. The court accepted his plea and found him guilty.
Following the plea, Hengst was referred to the Lorain County Pre-Sentence Investigation Department for evaluation. His bond was set at $50,000, and he will be released from the Lorain County Correctional Facility.
Sentencing for Hengst is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
CASE DETAILS
The charges stem from incidents that occurred on March 2, when Hengst made multiple calls to the Lorain County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies, claiming to be the Sheriff and making "cryptic statements."
According to officials, he also contacted the FBI's Cleveland field office, stating that he was the "President."
In addition, officers from the Lorain Police Department had responded to the Lorain Fire Station regarding Hengst pounding on the department's doors, asking for water.
Hengst was involved in a police chase after deputies attempted to stop him while he was driving a Subaru sedan without a license plate. He fled the scene, prompting law enforcement to pursue him; however, the pursuit was eventually called off for safety reasons.
Later that day, Hengst made threats during another call to the Lorain County Sheriff's Office, telling dispatchers to "be armed and ready, I'm on my way in."
He was arrested later that day by Brook Park police in the parking lot of the Cleveland Ohio State Highway Patrol post after law enforcement tracked his location using an emergency ping from his cellphone.
