Man awaiting trial for tossing hammer at Kiski Township officer arrested on drug charges in Tarentum

A man awaiting trial on charges that he threw a hammer and shards of glass at a police officer while fleeing from a Kiski Township home in January has been arrested on drug charges by Tarentum police.

Tarentum police say Alfred Keith Steele, 42, called 911 shortly before midnight on March 27 to report that somebody was breaking into the home where he was staying, according to a criminal complaint.

Police said Steele had a handgun for protection and appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic when they arrived at the house, the complaint said.

The woman who lives in the house told police she went upstairs for a moment and that nobody was trying to break in. Police said she was angry that Steele called 911 and the pair began arguing, the complaint said.

The woman ordered Steele out of the house but agreed to allow him to stay until morning because he is homeless.

Police said they were dispatched to the house again a short time later for a domestic and found Steele locked inside a bathroom.

An officer was able to get into the bathroom where he found Steele “sitting on the floor next to two butcher knives and used syringe in the sink,” the complaint said.

Police charged Steele with felony drug possession and a count of prohibited acts after a bag of crystal meth fell out of his pocket while being searched.

He is being detained in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh in lieu of a $10,000 cash bond, according to court records. He faces a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, May 11 before District Judge Carolyn Bengel.

Kiski Township police say they had to shock Steele with a Taser to stop him when he fled from a home on Jan. 17 after throwing a hammer and shards of broken glass at an officer.

The officer was responding to a home in the 600 block of Isabella Avenue shortly after 3 a.m. for a report of a disturbance.

The officer said he encountered Steele at his apartment and that Steele appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and hallucinating.

While speaking with police, Steele threw a hammer that nearly struck the officer, according to his arrest papers. Police said the hammer shattered a window and Steele began throwing large pieces of broken glass at the officer.

Steele crawled through the broken window and ran toward Apollo. The officer caught up with Steele several blocks away and used a Taser to subdue him and take him into custody.

Drug paraphernalia was found on Steele when he was searched.

Steele was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

He was released from the Armstrong County Jail on Jan. 24 after a bail agency in Kittanning posted a $5,000 surety bond.

A date for his trial in Armstrong County court has not yet been scheduled, according to court records.