PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — A man accused of attempting to seize a police officer’s handgun during an arrest in Plymouth Township faces felony assault and disarming charges, with bail set at $100,000 cash after a confrontation that left two officers injured.
Dallas Whitt Anderson-James was arrested Oct. 21 following two police responses to the 2000 block of Chemical Road involving alleged violations of a protection from abuse order, according to the Plymouth Township Police Department.
Officers initially responded at approximately 4:54 p.m. after a woman reported that Anderson-James had repeatedly attempted to contact her despite an active protection from abuse order.
Police confirmed the attempted communications and contacted Anderson-James directly, advising him that he was violating the order, that an arrest warrant was pending and that he was prohibited from returning to the area.
At approximately 7:09 p.m., officers returned after the woman reported seeing Anderson-James walking along Chemical Road.
Police located him on the Montgomery County Cross County Trail near Barnes & Noble, where he allegedly refused commands to stop and remove his hand from his pocket.
Officers attempted to arrest Anderson-James on the protection from abuse violation warrant, but he allegedly resisted, resulting in a physical struggle that brought him and the officers to the ground.
During the confrontation, Anderson-James allegedly gained possession of an officer’s Taser, prompting officers to struggle to regain control of the device.
Investigators further allege that Anderson-James grabbed the grip of an officer’s service pistol and attempted to pull it from its holster. The officer maintained control of the weapon, preventing its removal.
Police eventually restrained Anderson-James and placed him in handcuffs.
Two officers sustained injuries during the confrontation. One was treated and released, while the other was discharged from the hospital but remained unable to work while recovering from an arm injury.
Anderson-James was charged with second-degree felony aggravated assault and two third-degree felony counts of disarming a law enforcement officer.
Additional charges include first-degree misdemeanor stalking, second-degree misdemeanor simple assault, evading arrest or detention on foot and recklessly endangering another person.
He also faces two criminal complaints alleging contempt for violating a protection from abuse order.
Anderson-James was arraigned Oct. 22 before Magisterial District Judge Patrick O. Krouse, who set cash bail at $100,000 on the criminal charges.
The two protection from abuse contempt complaints were referred to the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas for disposition, with separate cash bail amounts of $10,000 imposed on each complaint.
Unable to post bail, Anderson-James was committed to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
A preliminary hearing on the aggravated assault and disarming charges is scheduled for Nov. 10 at 9:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Jodi Griffis.
The Whitemarsh Township, Conshohocken and West Conshohocken police departments assisted Plymouth Township officers, along with the Plymouth Community Ambulance Association.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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