Police: Man Grabs Officer's Taser After Holding Woman Hostage

MONESSEN (KDKA) – Police officers will tell you domestic calls are some of the most dangerous calls you can go on.

That was certainly the case for two Monessen officers who went to arrest a man who didn't want to go. He managed to get ahold of one of the officers' Tasers.

"The world is getting progressively more violent unfortunately," said Monessen Police Chief John Mandarino.

Monessen's police chief reflected after two of his officers responded to 525 9th Street after a woman called frantic for police help.

"She said her friend was being held upstairs against her will by the female's boyfriend," the chief said.

Behind a bedroom door was the suspect, 23-year-old Marcus Brandon Johnson, a convicted felon with a violent history.

"They forced their way in," Mandarino said, "and attempted to place him under arrest."
"My officers don't know what the mind set of that person was," he added.

They quickly found out as Johnson battled them both.

"During the altercation our female officer attempted to stun him with the stun guy and he removed the gun from our officer," said Mandarino.

"You incapacitate my officer with a stun gun, they got another weapon available to you: their gun," he added.

Mandarino also added that he could have been shot had he tried to use the stun gun.
But Johnson never got the chance.

"He was taken to the ground and tired out awhile and they could get him handcuffed," Mandarino said.

Mandarino said police also found cocaine on Johnson.

Johnson is in the Westmorland County Prison on a $25,000 straight bond, charged with numerous counts of aggravated assault and disarming a law enforcement officer.

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