Monessen man charged with kicking, threatening and spitting at police
Charges have been filed against a Monessen man for allegedly kicking, spitting at and threatening a police officer during an arrest.
Darnell Warnell Diggs, 50, of 511 Summit Ave. was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Joseph A. Dalfonso Tuesday on charges including two counts of assaulting a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and terroristic threats.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Monessen Police Officer Robert Cunningham responded to a call at the U.S. Post Office along Donner Avenue for a report of two men who stole five postal money orders at 4:18 p.m. Monday.
Police were provided the description of the men and their direction of travel as well as a name of one of the suspects as “David Jackson”.
When Cunningham found the two men who matched the description, one of the men told Cunningham that his name was David Jackson, which was later found to actually be Darnell Diggs.
When Diggs was informed he was under arrest for the theft of the money orders, he refused to comply with verbal commands and struggled as Cunningham attempted to place Diggs in handcuffs.
Cunningham used pepper spray to subdue Diggs, and a citizen assisted in the apprehension of Diggs, who kicked Cunningham in the leg during the struggle and spat in the officer’s direction, according to court records.
While Diggs was in custody, he verbally conveyed to Cunningham, “I will make sure I kill you” and pointed his index finger at Cunningham as an imaginary gun and made multiple trigger-pulling motions while smiling at the officer, police alleged.
Diggs also allegedly threatened to kill another police officer and his family.
A preliminary is scheduled at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 9 before Dalfonso.
Diggs is currently lodged in the Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bond.