Pennsylvania State Police. Photo by James Short.
Austin Gehman, of Hatfield and Perkiomen, faces child endangerment and multiple assault-related charges following threats with a gun and police drone search
A Hatfield man with an address in Perkiomen Township is charged with a felony count of endangering the welfare of children, as well as five misdemeanor charges, for allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill Perkiomen Township residents with a gun last week.
Austin S. Gehman, 40, was charged by Pennsylvania State Police at Skippack with the above offense, as well as misdemeanor unlawful restraint with bodily harm, four misdemeanor counts of simple assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, two counts of terroristic threats, and possessing an instrument of crime, according to court documents.
On July 21, 2025 at 10:01 p.m., troopers were called to Seitz Road in Perkiomen Township by a neighbor for a report of a man threatening another person with a gun, per the affidavit.
After arrival, two victims fled the home, “appeared terrified,” and ran toward troopers, screaming that Gehman had a gun, according to the complaint.
A witness at the scene told police that Gehman had fled out the back door of the home into the woods and that he was in possession of a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol, police said.
More troopers arrived on scene and set up a perimeter, along with local law enforcement. A police drone was used to find the fleeing Gehman in the woods, a few hundred yards from the home, police alleged.
He was taken into custody without incident, and police found a black and brown 9mm handgun near a tree, police said. The gun was loaded with one in the chamber, according to police..
After being read his rights, Gehman admitted the gun was near a tree in the woods, where police found it, according to the complaint. He told police he got into an argument with the victims and then declined to answer further questions regarding an assault, according to the affidavit.
Victims told police they were assaulted due to one of the victim’s passwords being changed on their phone, according to the complaint. One of the victims was also allegedly pushed down rear deck steps by Gehman into the backyard and suffered bruising and finger marks on their cheek, said police.
After the assault occurred in the backyard, Gehman allegedly pulled the pistol out and pushed it against the victim’s forehead, threatening to kill them. He then allegedly pointed it at the second victim’s head and threatened to kill them.
One victim attempted to flee the home via the front door, but Gehman, armed with the gun, blocked the door with his body and intimidated the victim with the gun, police alleged, stating the only way they were leaving, “was with a bullet in (the) head.”
Once troopers arrived on scene, both victims were able to reach safety.
During the incident, a juvenile was sleeping in the home, police said.
The victim told police that Gehman had acted this way before, but the behavior was not previously reported until the victim became scared they were going to die, police said in the complaint.
Gehman was jailed on $150,000 cash bail, set by Magisterial District Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar at arraignment, but was reduced by court order to $99,000 cash bail, according to court documents. He remains jailed at Montgomery County as of July 22. A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Adam T. Katzman on Aug. 13. Gehman is represented by a public defender.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
