PITTSBURGH — Rodrick Dent, 40, faces a slew of charges related to a violent encounter with police inside a Bloomfield gas station and convenience store.
It started just after midnight Monday when a woman called police after hearing a gunshot.
On their way down Liberty Avenue, officers heard a second shot fired and were flagged down by a nurse outside West Penn Hospital, who described the shooter.
“It’s good to have good people looking out for one another,” said David Kubit, who often shops at the convenience store where police found Dent.
According to court documents, officers asked Dent if he had a gun.
He said no, but when officers patted him down inside the store, they found a handgun near his waist.
They tried to cuff him, but he resisted.
Officers had to bring Dent to the ground, where he allegedly tried to choke an officer, kicking at the others and knocking items off store shelves.
Police say he tried to reach for his gun inside his jacket pocket, ignoring the officers’ commands.
That was when one officer used his Taser stun gun.
After a continued struggle, Dent was taken into custody, but not without allegedly threatening officers by yelling, “I’ll kill you all” and “You’ll have to kill me,” according to arresting documents.
“These people [police officers] are struggling to make a living and it’s like they have to put up with all that abuse and crime,” said Kubit. “It can’t be easy on them.”
Dent is charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, making terroristic threats, and discharging a firearm.
“It’s tragic because it is a good and safe neighborhood,” said Kubit. “You will have cases like this off and on. It’s a sad state of our society today.”
Dent is being held at the Allegheny County Jail after being denied bond.
He’s due back in court on March 17.
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