Police: Man, Allegedly On Drugs, Terrorizes Ex-Girlfriend's Family, Scuffles With Officers
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man is behind bars and facing many charges after police say he terrorized a family in the city's Garfield section and scuffled with officers when they tried to take him into custody.
The victim, the suspect's ex-girlfriend, along with several young children had to escape out a back door when the suspect started breaking down the front door.
A broken door jam and a punched in mailbox are reminders of the violence that took place on Aiken Street on Thursday night.
"I guess he kicked in the door, trashed the house. She had to call police. The police ended up coming, found him in the home, I guess on drugs," one witness said.
She's talking about the suspect, 34-year-old Marquis Dennis.
Police have filed a long list of charges against him, including aggravated assault, drug dealing, resisting arrest and burglary.
Dennis's former girlfriend is too frightened to be interviewed. We are protecting the identity of the teenage relative who witnessed the whole thing.
Witness: "He was snapping on the cops."
KDKA's Paul Martino: "What do you mean snapping on the cops?"
Witness: "Like trying to get away, like outta the cuffs."
Police say they had to use and Taser and shackle Dennis because he kept kicking officers and trying to get away. Now the fear is he'll get out of jail and return.
"He's gonna come back, I think, 'cause she put him in jail," the witness said. "He's gonna come back. We need to find her a place to stay."
Police say they recovered a bag of white powder that's believed to be ecstasy. They also say Dennis had more than $2,200 on him. Some of that may have been stolen from the woman's apartment.
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