Battery, confinement charges for man who barricaded self in house

A 31-year-old man who had to be coaxed from the attic of his Greencastle residence Thursday afternoon by police using a fire department ladder to reach him is facing two local criminal charges as well after being arrested on an outstanding Hendricks County warrant.

Joshua W. Joyner is also facing Putnam County charges of criminal confinement (a Level 6 felony) and battery resulting in bodily injury (a Class A misdemeanor) after reportedly beating and confining a 34-year-old female acquaintance, according to a probable cause affidavit compiled by GPD Det. Randy Seipel.

The alleged victim said about midnight Joyner became violent when he reportedly became desperate for drugs. Saying he was in the throes of heroin withdrawal, he started "acting crazy," according to court documents.

During the five-hour period that followed Joyner reportedly choked the woman, struck her in the head, pulled her hair and scraped her face with a folding knife, all along with reportedly threatening to kill her, the probable cause affidavit notes.

Authorities said the woman displayed fresh bruising, a scratched face and redness around her neck consistent with her statement of being battered and choked.

Later that morning Joyner reportedly told her not to tell anyone what had happened, threatening that he was in a gang and his actions were designed to see how tough she was.

When an argument ensued as the two walked to a store, the woman walked away, found a friend to take her to the police station and filed a complaint against Joyner that led police to his residence.

Joyner, whose identification carries an old Indianapolis address that was noted in reports Thursday, was arrested by Greencastle City Police officers Thursday afternoon. That came after the suspect barricaded himself in the attic of his latest residence, 303 S. Jackson St., in an apparent effort to avoid apprehension.

Joyner was initially taken into custody and lodged in the Putnam County Jail on a Hendricks County warrant for failure to appear in court on March 16 to answer to a violation of probation charge. That probation violation stems from a May 2012 case in which Joyner was charged with burglary and criminal mischief.

After local authorities discovered there was a warrant out against Joyner and attempted to serve it, he reportedly fled to the attic, agreeing to come out only after police utilized a Greencastle Fire Department ladder to reach the suspect and talk to him.

During his discussion with police Joyner reportedly threw down a black knife with a wolf scene on it, as previously described by the alleged victim.

Joyner remained in the Putnam County Jail Friday, awaiting an initial appearance in court.