A series of allegations culminating in a SWAT team deployment landed 26-year-old Burnell Johnson behind bars on Monday night in New Kensington. As reported by TribLIVE, Johnson, previously charged with an assault in Pittsburgh, was arrested after authorities responded to a domestic situation potentially involving a firearm.
According to the TribLIVE coverage, the incident traces back to a confrontation outside Valley’s Bar on Seventh Street, where Johnson allegedly assaulted a child and exhibited indecent exposure towards a crowd that included minors. New Kensington officers had initially approached a house on the 1100 block of Taylor Avenue, where Johnson was suspected of hiding. The SWAT intervention followed after a tense standoff where Johnson was believed to be armed. He ultimately surrendered to authorities at approximately 10 p.m.
Details about the misdemeanor charges from New Kensington are sparse, although Johnson is accused of simple assault, resisting arrest, and obstruction. This follows a history of violence, as revealed in a statement by Pittsburgh police, who had previously filed charges against Johnson for an October domestic incident. These charges included aggravated assault, strangulation, and theft, according to WTAE.
Diving into the October domestic dispute, court records describe a series of disturbing events. A woman, found hysterical by Pittsburgh police, recounted how an argument with Johnson quickly escalated into brutal violence. He is accused of throwing her around, attempting to stab her with a knife, choking her to the point of losing consciousness and biting her, as detailed in a criminal complaint detailed by TribLIVE. She sustained injuries, evidenced by swelling and scrapes over her body, necessitating treatment at UPMC Mercy Hospital.
