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Churchill Man Accused Of Assaulting Wife & Police Officer

CHURCHILL (KDKA)- A Churchill man is facing a long list of charges after allegedly kicking a police officer in the chest.

Police were called to the home of James Rossell, Jr. early Thursday morning along Beulah Road. Police say Rossell punched his wife in the face and kicked her in the stomach.

When officers arrived at the scene, they say Rossell locked himself inside the house and refused to come out. According to the complaint, police used Rossell's wife's key to gain access to the home.

Once inside, officers found Rossell hiding in a crawl space in the attic. After refusing repeated orders to get up and put his hands up, officers threatened Rossell with a Taser.

As an officer attempted to pull Rossell from the crawl space, Rossell reached for the Taser. He then kicked the officer in the chest, knocking the officer backward.  Two officers were able to pull Rossell out, but not before he threw a punch at one of the officers, which missed.

While being arrested, Rossell fell and struck his face on the edge of a metal box that housed a large attic exhaust fan. As a result, Rossell had bleeding and bruising near his eyes. According to the criminal complaint, Rossell kept fighting after this, even trying to pull the handcuffs away from the officer trying to arrest him.

Rossell was charged with assault of a law enforcement officer, simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Rossell was treated by medics at the scene and taken to the Allegheny County Jail. According to the criminal complaint, Rossell denied any physical abuse of his wife and then apologized to the officers for his conduct.

Rossell's wife claimed he was highly intoxicated.

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