May 7, 2002 By Jennifer Harr 3 min read

Duron Ford said he “freaked out” when police tried to serve an arrest warrant on him Monday in the Fayette County Courthouse, where he was awaiting a criminal trial. Jurors and witnesses in the second floor hallway heard Ford as he screamed and had to be pinned to the floor so police could handcuff him. Some 15 members of the law enforcement community, including police, court constables, sheriff’s deputies and a courthouse tipstaff, restrained Ford. Several of the police who assisted in controlling Ford were in suits, and were at the courthouse to testify at various criminal trials.

Redstone Township Capt. H. Dennis Field and Uniontown Police Detective Phillip W. Jones approached Ford around 1:30 p.m. Field had a warrant for possession of cocaine.

As Ford became unruly, he screamed out, “What I do? What I do?” and told police he had drugs in his possession and did not want to be arrested. A female accompanying Ford, yelled at him several times to keep his mouth shut as he was taken away.

Jones and Field confirmed that Ford, 19, of 149 S. Mt. Vernon Ave., Uniontown, did have cocaine and marijuana on him.

Ford was charged with resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine, and cited for criminal mischief, in connection with his arrest in the courthouse. Jones said the criminal mischief citation related to damage done to the uniform of court constable Todd Brothers, whose pants were ripped in the scuffle.

Ford was arraigned on both the warrant and the new charges and committed to Fayette County Prison in lieu of $10,000 total bond.

In a phone conversation while in police custody, Ford said he was befuddled by the police attention.

“They had no reason to come up on me,” he said, noting that he was not aware of the arrest warrant because of a mail mix-up.

When asked why he resisted so vehemently, Ford said he was caught off guard.

“I was so stunned. I didn’t know what to do.”

He also said that it’s unlikely he’ll be posting his bail to get out of prison anytime soon, noting that he has no money.

Ford was at the courthouse expecting to go to trial on previous resisting arrest charge. During a June 25 traffic stop in Uniontown, Ford allegedly kicked and tried to hit two officers before fleeing. When apprehended, Ford also allegedly bit one of the officers.

He was caught near Central School when he fell into a bush, and, police allege, tried to drop a bag that contained cocaine.

In that matter, he is charged with aggravated and simple assault, possession of powder cocaine, resisting arrest and driving with a suspended license.

The warrant that sparked Monday’s arrest came from the arrest in another case that is still pending in court.

Field and Jones said Ford was arrested for allegedly selling drugs to an undercover narcotics agent last June 20.

During that arrest, Field found a small amount of cocaine on Ford. Before that charge could be filed, however, Jones said Ford had bonded out of jail.

The warrant served Monday was issued for his arrest.