5/20/19 – 5:01 A.M.

A man allegedly making threats at the Pilot truck stop on State Route 613 near Van Buren is in custody today. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to the business around 7 a.m. Sunday. A caller said 33-year-old Joseph Saldana was in an SUV in the parking lot and might have a gun.

The first deputy to arrive saw Saldana hit another car with his SUV. He then ran away into a nearby “woody thicket.” K-9 officer Charlie chased Saldana down and helped bring him into custody. Deputies say Saldana had two weapons in his SUV, including a stolen handgun. He also allegedly had a large amount of illegal narcotics.

Saldana faces charges of possession of drugs, aggravated menacing, and failure to comply with a police officer among several others.

Arrest Location: