Man Arrested For Allegedly Biting 2 Pittsburgh Police Officers
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A man was arrested for allegedly biting two Pittsburgh Police officers on Christmas Eve.
Police say they responded to the Amtrak station downtown on Liberty Avenue around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday for reports of a disorderly male.
According to police, the man, identified as 39-year-old Deandre McCrary from Baltimore, became irritated after he asked an Amtrak employee for a cigarette. The employee didn't have any, so McCrary allegedly punched the ticket seller's window. Then, police say he "paced the lobby angrily while talking to himself."
"The man became very agitated and went into the lobby, started yelling at a woman behind the ticket counter, but there was a mirror separating them. He punched that mirror then tried hiding under a stairwell, he was acting very upset," said Pittsburgh Police Public Information Officer Chris Togneri.
Officers told McCrary to leave, but he allegedly refused. When officers went to escort him outside, he resisted and bit two of the officers.
"During the struggle, the man tried to bite and did successfully bite two officers, one on the arm another on the leg," Togneri said.
Police say they managed to get McCray into custody after they used a taser.
The two bitten officers were treated and released at UPMC.
McCrary was taken to the Allegheny County Jail on two counts of aggravated assault, trespassing and resisting arrest.
Amtrak told KDKA they are cooperating with the investigation.
This is the third time in a week when people were trying to fight off officers while being arrested.
On Friday morning, officers arrested now-former Steeler Kameron Kelly on the South Side.
On Monday morning, Raechelle Price, 24, was charged with resisting arrest and aggravated assault along with Madelyn Como, 22, who was also charged with aggravated assault.
"This kind of stuff can happen, it's a dangerous job. Police are aware of that, but this is just a reminder that a normal call can turn violent instantly," Togneri said.