EVANS CITY — A mother and father pleaded for the court to compel their son to seek psychiatric help as he appeared Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

“Normally, he’s the nicest person on the planet,” said the father of Derek L. Linkenheimer, 26, of Zelienople. “He has no idea what he’s saying.”

Linkenheimer is charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats, simple assault, resisting arrest and criminal mischief after authorities claimed he strangled his mother and threatened police and other people while resisting arrest in July.

District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz moved forward all charges against him to Butler County Common Pleas Court.

His parents’ request came before and after the court’s consideration of bond. Public defender Ryan Helsel, representing Linkenheimer, asked his client if he would be open to being released to an inpatient mental health facility.

“I do not believe I need it in any way, shape or form,” Linkenheimer said. “I don’t need mental health help.”

His parents disagreed, and Helsel informed the court that his client’s mental health would be a focal point moving forward with the case.

“It’s going to be my intention to request a mental health evaluation and a competency evaluation,” Helsel said.

Marcinkiewicz maintained Linkenheimer’s bond at $50,000, which is holding him in Butler County Prison. Additional "no contact“ conditions would be applied in the event of his release.

Outside of the bond conversation, Helsel offered no further argument during the hearing, which was overshadowed by the constant erratic behavior of Linkenheimer.

Linkenheimer’s behavior appeared heightened in the presence of his family, particularly during the testimony of his mother, Beth Linkenheimer, who said she called 911 on July 20 because she was afraid of her son’s behavior.

“He did put me in a headlock and took the phone,” she said. “I feel like it wasn’t long. The whole event was really quick.”

Beth Linkenheimer said her son has a history of mental health issues and confirmed diagnoses. She said she sought help earlier that day.

“I had tried calling (Butler County) Crisis that morning, saying that I was worried about him,” Linkenheimer said.

Beth Linkenheimer said she believed her son had stopped taking his medication, and she had considered having him involuntarily committed. She said the process isn’t easy because her son, being an adult, still has rights.

“It comes down to something happening for them to do anything,” she said.

During his mother’s testimony, Derek Linkenheimer appeared to shift quickly from anger to intense curiosity to sometimes giggling.

When his mother was in the courtroom, he would, at times, cry into his hands and apologize. This were quickly followed by jolting lapses into other emotions and mannerisms.

After his mother exited the courtroom, Linkenheimer appeared calmer during the testimony of Zelienople Sgt. Sean Adomaitis, who said he responded that night and is a close friend of the family.

Adomaitis said when he showed up, he found Linkenheimer outside the house on a phone.

“He asked me to sit down and talk to him on the level,” Adomaitis said.

Adomaitis said he obliged, but the conversation ended with Linkenheimer getting more erratic. He said Linkenheimer resisted arrest, damaged a police cruiser and threatened to kill multiple people, including himself and his family.

“He’s naming each one of my kids,” Adomaitis said. “He’s known my family since my kids were born.”

Adomaitis said many of Linkenheimer’s comments that night were recorded by a body camera, a cruiser camera and a cellphone camera.

He said because of LInkenheimer’s resistance, including needing to be tased while in his holding cell and his erratic behavior, he was taken directly to jail.

“Derek was not taken to the hospital that night,” Adomaitis said.

Linkenheimer is scheduled to appear next for his formal arraignment Oct. 4.

The man’s family said they hope he can get the help he needs sooner rather than later, and being in jail may worsen his condition.

“It’s not going to get any better,” Linkenheimer’s father said. “It’s going to continually get worse.”