Photo by James Short.
Case against Mark Berger now pushed to September after eight continuances since 2024 arrest
A preliminary hearing for a man accused of punching a Towamencin Township police officer nearly two years ago while allegedly trespassing on North Penn Water Authority property has been delayed yet again, marking the latest in a series of continuances since his arrest last fall.
Mark Adam Berger, 38, formerly of Souderton and North Canton, OH, is now scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 2 before Magisterial District Judge Edward Levine. The hearing had most recently been set for April 29, and prior to that was scheduled for Dec. 17, 2025.
Court records indicate the case has now been continued eight times since Berger was charged in September 2024.
Berger was charged Sept. 17, 2024, with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of simple assault, resisting arrest and defiant trespassing after an incident at the North Penn Water Authority property on Forty Foot Road.
Police alleged Berger, who had set up a makeshift camp in a wooded area with miscellaneous personal items strewn about, refused to leave the property when asked and struck an officer in the head as police attempted to take him into custody.
Berger told police, “I’m a dead man walking,” according to the complaint..
After several minutes of negotiating with Berger, police told him to leave the property or he would be arrested for trespassing, per the complaint.
Berger said, “Alright, I remain silent,” according to the affidavit, before allegedly hitting the officer.
The officer suffered redness and swelling around his eye, according to the affidavit.
Following his arrest, Berger posted $25,000 cash bail after two months in jail in November 2024 and has since been awaiting a preliminary hearing to determine whether the charges will be held for court.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records and information provided by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office
