Middletown Man, 21, Charged With Striking Middletown Cop During Heroin Arrest

A 21 year-old Middletown man is accused of striking a police officer with his hands and fists while resisting arrest on alleged heroin possession charges. 

Middletown Det. Donald Coates reported he received only minor injuries in the incident on Tuesday.

Cory T. Diehl of Kentucky Avenue in Middletown is charged with aggravated simple assault of a police officer, possession of 14 wax folds of heroin and resisting arrest by trying to pull away and fight off the officer, which are offenses of the third degree. A defendant convicted of a third degree offense may face a potential 3-5 years if convicted. 

Another charge of obstructing the administration of the law is a fourth degree offense, punishable by up to 18 months in jail if convicted. 

Det. Coates was displaying his badge and performing his official duties at the time of the incident, according to the police report. 

Diehl is being held at the county jail on $55,000 bail set by Judge Richard Thompson. His first appearance before a judge in Superior Court is scheduled for July 28. 

An arrest is not a conviction, and every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.