Reading Police assisted by Berks County Detectives executed a search warrant related to a narcotics investigation on the 500 block of Bingaman Street Friday morning.
According to Police, while officers were transitioning from the 2nd to 3rd floors multiple shots were fired by an individual from inside a 3rd floor bedroom towards the door the officers were about to make entry through.
The officers were able to take cover and attempted to call the suspect out of the apartment.
The suspect fled out of a window onto the roof and was taken into custody on a neighboring rooftop.
During the incident no shots were fired at the suspect by the officers executing the search warrant and there were no injuries reported.
The Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team responded to the scene and assisted with clearing the residence.
Inside the apartment occupied by the suspect officers located a loaded pistol that had been fired and an AR-15 rifle.
Joshua Randy Perez, 32 years old, is being charged with multiple counts of Attempted Homicide, Aggravated Assault, and Possession with the Intent to Deliver Controlled Substances, Persons not to Possess Firearms and related drug charges.
“Reading Police Department prioritizes the investigation and relentless follow-up of all incidents involving violent crime in the City of Reading and initiates investigations into drug and other illegal activity that threaten the safety of our neighborhoods” reads a statement by Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli.
“Through the courageous actions of the members of the Reading Police Department an individual, who did not hesitate to attempt to murder police officers and posed an extreme risk to public safety is off our streets. Incidents like this will not deter the resolve of the women and men of the Reading Police Department in their efforts to improve public safety through their professional and dedicated service to the City of Reading. There is no place for violent crime in our City and we will utilize every available law enforcement resource at the local, state and federal level to continue to combat violence in all of our neighborhoods.”
