Winkelman Awaits Extradition to Clinton County

Josh Winkleman
Josh Winkleman

LOCK HAVEN — Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse said today local law enforcement will be moving ahead with plans to extradite a suspected Renovo bank robber from Georgia.

Josh Winkelman, 26, wanted by authorities in connection with an October bank robbery in Renovo, remains in police custody in Georgia, apprehended earlier this month when found sleeping in his truck in the restaurant district of Richmond Hill, an affluent community near Savannah.

Richmond Hill police have charged Winkelman with multiple felonies in connection with their attempts to take him into custody. Strouse today told therecord-online that local police here will extradite Winkelman as soon as George authorities release him for that process.

The police department at Richmond Hill, GA made the arrest nearly two weeks ago. Officers there said they were investigating what they said was a suspicious person in the restaurant district of town: “The subject, Joshua Scott Winkelman, gave the officers a fictitious name and advised them that he did not remember his birth date. At that point, Winkelman fled on foot, taking officers on a very short foot pursuit. After a brief fight with officers, Winkelman was arrested and identified. While officers were conducting an inventory search of the pick-up truck he had been driving, they discovered loaded firearms and ammunition.”

Their police report alleged that Winkelman verbally threatened the life of the arresting officer. Charges the Renovo resident faces in Georgia are: obstruction of law enforcement officer when engaged in official duty; giving false name, address or birthday to law enforcement officer; willful obstruction of law enforcement officers, possession of a schedule III controlled substance and interference with government property.

It was on May 2 that a state police drug strike force descended on Winkelman’s 5th Street home in Renovo only to find that he had fled. Authorities had been on the lookout since that time and subsequently issued a release terming him “armed and dangerous.” It had been believed he was hiding out in the Summerson Mountain area of Chapman Township.

Winkelman’s apprehension followed by several days the arrest of his companion Toni Sporny on drug trafficking charges. Sporny had been arrested May 19 when she was found in their 5th Street residence. She remains in the Clinton County Correctional Facility in default of bail. May 20 saw the arrest of another Renovo resident in connection with the case. Bobby Joe Winkelman, 34, believed a cousin of Josh Winkelman, was arrested by state police and charged with multiple counts of hindering apprehension or prosecution.

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