Nguyen

A city woman accused of hindering apprehension of a fugitive is behind bars after resisting arrest, trying to escape and assaulting an Altoona police officer, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.

Ann Ngoc Nguyen, 43, was questioned July 2 outside her place of work on the 1100 block of Green Avenue, Altoona, after police discovered she had been in direct contact with Rickey Joyner, who is wanted on a third-degree murder warrant, court documents state.

Police learned that Nguyen is Joyner’s girlfriend and that he had been staying at her home on the 2700 block of Fifth Avenue, according to the report.

Nguyen agreed to step outside of her workplace to talk to police, who asked her about Joyner.

Nguyen said Joyner was not at her residence and invited police to go with her to look. She also said she hadn’t spoken to Joyner for about two weeks after they had a “falling out” over his ex-girlfriend.

When police asked to see her cellphone, Nguyen refused. Police then asked when she last talked to Joyner, to which she said it was the middle of June.

Nguyen told police Joyner didn’t have a car and would use an Uber to get around, the report states, noting that Nguyen would repeat officers’ questions before answering as a way to buy time to think of a response.

Police then asked for Joyner’s phone number, to which Nguyen said she deleted and blocked it.

After police explained how she could look at blocked numbers, Nguyen used her phone to look at the blocked numbers while police looked over her shoulder. At that time, police saw phone numbers with area codes from New York and Philadelphia, both regions where Joyner is known to have used phones, the report states.

Nguyen claimed she didn’t remember which number was Joyner’s and an officer asked why she was protecting Joyner. At that point, she put the phone in her pocket, said she wasn’t protecting anyone and that police could find Joyner on their own, according to the affidavit.

Police reminded Nguyen that Joyner is alleged to have murdered someone and that she possibly had Joyner’s number. When she next pulled out her phone, police said they were going to confiscate it and apply for a search warrant.

Nguyen allegedly yelled that they were not taking her phone and backed away toward the front doors of her workplace.

After she attempted to flee, officers took Nguyen into custody. As they attempted to put her in handcuffs, she tensed up and refused to provide her hands. With her left wrist in a handcuff, Nguyen attempted to crush her phone with her right hand, police reported.

When an officer took her phone, Nguyen grabbed the officer by the throat, the affidavit states.

She was eventually handcuffed and taken to the police cruiser, though she resisted arrest by digging in her heels, and attempted to grab the officer’s camera and demand it be turned on. Police reported the camera was already on, of which they informed Nguyen.

Once at APD, Nguyen decided to talk with police, stating she had spent the weekend with Joyner in Newark, N.J., from

June 27-30, in an Airbnb she booked. She picked up Joyner at the train station, stating that he traveled there via the subway, the affidavit states.

Nguyen was arraigned Monday before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on felony counts of aggravated assault of an officer, hindering apprehension and escape, along with misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, tampering with evidence, evading arrest and obstructing justice.

Unable to post $75,000 bail, she was remanded to the Blair County Prison. Her preliminary hearing is set for July 16 before DeAntonio.

Joyner, 44, is facing drug-trafficking charges and third-degree murder, regarding the 2022 overdose death of a woman. Police allege he provided fentanyl for the victim, who was told the pills were oxycodone.

Joyner faces 10 felony charges, including murder of the third degree, corrupt organizations, conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, dealing in unlawful proceeds and criminal use of a communication facility.

His charges are the result of a grand jury investigation into drug trafficking in the Altoona area.

His case remains inactive as police have a warrant for his arrest.