http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20101006_Cops__Delco_woman_hit_cable_guy_and_resisted_arrest.htmlCynthia Roberts: Arrested
Cynthia Roberts: Arrested
Posted on Wed, Oct. 6, 2010
Cops: Delco woman hit cable guy, resisted arrest, used daughter as Taser shield
By WILLIAM BENDER
Philadelphia Daily News
(-REDACTED-) 215-854-5255
Cynthia Roberts should have called it a day after she allegedly got drunk and socked the cable guy when he tried to disconnect her service.
But Roberts, 49, of Upper Darby, doubled down Sunday afternoon when responding officers arrived to arrest her for assault.
She locked herself in the bathroom, then used her 11-year-old daughter to prevent cops from zapping her with a stun gun, police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said yesterday.
"They were pinpointing her with the laser on the Taser because of her being out of control," Chitwood said. "She grabbed the 11-year-old daughter and put her in front of her as a shield."
That resulted in Roberts' being charged with child endangerment and resisting arrest, in addition to simple assault, harassment and public drunkenness. Delaware County Children & Youth Services was called in to investigate.
Chitwood said Roberts apparently became irate when a Comcast technician tried to disconnect the cable at her Timberlake Road residence for nonpayment. She allegedly went outside and punched him in the face.
"Apparently, she had been drinking," Chitwood said. "It can be dangerous when you come to shut someone's TV off and they ain't happy about it."
Police eventually separated Roberts from her daughter and took her into custody without using the Taser.
"Fortunately, the officers didn't fire," Chitwood said. "They would have tazed an 11-year-old."
Roberts failed to post bail and is being held at the county prison while awaiting her preliminary hearing.
