Assault, standoff suspect pleads guilty
Published 4:50 pm Saturday, April 13, 2013
An Austin man who reportedly pointed a loaded shotgun at his own chin while standing off with police on June 2, 2012, pleaded guilty Friday in Mower County Court.
Joshua Mark Hatleli, 27, pleaded guilty to terroristic threats, a felony, and gross misdemeanor domestic assault.
Charges for fleeing police in a vehicle, a felony, another gross misdemeanor for domestic assault and gross misdemeanor possession of firearms by user of a controlled substance, were dismissed.
Police received a call from the victims, who said Hatleli had damaged a door, returned to the home and made threatening remarks while he had a shotgun, according to the court complaint. One victim saw Hatleli leave, remove the gun from its case and leave in his car. According to the complaint, Hatleli told one of the victim’s over the phone: “This is not the end of it. I will … get every single one of you and I will be back.”
Hatleli also allegedly said he was going to kill a victim’s husband: “… he is done, I’m coming for him too with six rounds.”
The victims told police that Hatleli was going to Marcusen Park and said he would never be seen by any of them again. Police later found Hatleli driving and followed him to Marcusen Park with their emergency lights on.
According to the complaint, Hatleli sat in the front seat of his car with a shotgun, chambered a shell and pointed the gun to his chin. After 12-minutes of negotiating, officers were able to convince Hatleli to surrender. The shotgun was loaded with six rifled slugs — one in the chamber. Hatleli admitted to police he was stressed out and smoked cocaine the previous night, according to the complaint.
Hatleli will be sentenced on Aug. 2.