Norristown man faces trial on assault charges
NORRISTOWN » A Norristown man must answer to assault-related charges in Montgomery County Court after he allegedly scuffled with borough police during a disturbance.
Andre Livingston, 42, of the first block of East Spruce Street, was ordered to stand trial, after a preliminary hearing before District Court Judge Gregory Scott, on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated harassment by a prisoner, simple assault, resisting arrest, disarming a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, recklessly endangering other persons and drug-related charges in connection with the alleged 10:30 p.m. June 1 incident in the 500 block of Green Street.
A charge of assault of a law enforcement officer was withdrawn by prosecutors.
Livingston is being held at the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bail while awaiting a pretrial hearing in county court later this year.
According to court papers, officers initially were dispatched to the Green Street area for an alleged verbal disturbance involving men with guns.
When police arrived they did not observe anyone in the area but a male approached police and stated, “Are you looking for the guy walking around with the machete? No, there were no guns, he’s wearing a white T-shirt and has a big long machete,” according to the arrest affidavit filed by Norristown
Police Officer Ashley Gaeta.
A short time later, police were flagged down by residents in the 500 block of Green Street who reported a man was walking around waving a knife or a machete, according to court papers. Police observed a cotton/mesh machete soft cover with the tip covered in silver duct tape on a sidewalk and witnesses said the subject had dropped it there.
Livingston subsequently was observed in the area and was identified by residents as the person who was carrying the large machete or knife, according to the arrest affidavit.
Officers followed Livingston on foot northbound on Green Street toward Marshall Street and attempted to speak to Livingston
but he refused to stop and attempted to flee west on Marshall Street, court documents alleged. As officers got closer to Livingston, he suddenly changed directions and ran directly toward an officer, authorities alleged.
Livingston allegedly used both of his hands to strike a female officer in the face and head area and she was transported to an area hospital for injuries to her face and knee, according to the criminal complaint.
Livingston continued to flee and refused to comply with commands to stop, according to police. An officer fired a Taser, striking Livingston in the back and he fell to the ground, court papers indicate. A struggle ensued as police attempted to take
Livingston into custody, court papers alleged.
During the struggle, Livingston allegedly was able to disarm an officer of his Taser and he attempted but was unsuccessful in removing another officer’s service weapon, according to the criminal complaint. Livingston repeatedly resisted officers but eventually officers were able to gain control of Livingston and placed him under arrest, court documents indicate.
“Livingston aggressively resisted with officers and attempted to disarm them for approximately seven minutes,” Gaeta alleged in the arrest affidavit.
When police searched Livingston they found he was possessing 11 small bags of a white rock-like substance believed to be crack cocaine, according to the criminal complaint.
Livingston was transported to a local hospital and evaluated for any injuries that he may have sustained during the incident, police said.
While at the hospital, Livingston allegedly remained assaultive, spat at several officers, attempted to head butt an officer, and told another officer, “When I get out you’re going to be the first one I kill,” according to the criminal complaint.
Police said Livingston was examined by hospital staff and found to have no injuries and subsequently was medically cleared to be detained at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.