Castle Shannon man accused of harassing, intimidating poll workers

Castle Shannon police said a man caused a disruption Tuesday at a polling location in the borough’s library.

Police said David Huff, 57, of Castle Shannon refused to leave and resisted arrest, injuring an officer and damaging a police vehicle.

According to a criminal complaint against Huff, police responded around 3:30 p.m. to a report of disorderly man at the voting poll at Castle Shannon Library.

Police said they determined that Huff had been harassing polling workers and intimidating them. A constable asked Huff to leave after he voted in the primary election, but he refused.

Huff was yelling at and filming voters, police said. Voting temporarily stopped because of Huff’s erratic behavior, the complaint states.

Police said Huff refused to leave after they asked to talk with him outside. He continued to record the encounter “and yell about his rights,” the complaint states.

Officers warned Huff that he would be criminally charged if he did not leave, police said. They told him he would be forcibly removed from the library if he did not comply with their wishes to step outside.

After being told he was under arrest, police said Huff resisted commands to put his hands behind his back, and at one point tried to swat an officer away with his arm.

An officer suffered a cut on her hand as Huff was forcibly handcuffed. While being put into the back of a police vehicle, police said Huff shoulder checked an officer into the vehicle, causing a dent.

Huff did not have an attorney listed in court records.

Huff was charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and election interference and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, interference, harassment, criminal mischief, defiant trespass and disorderly conduct.

Huff was arraigned early Wednesday morning. He was released from the Allegheny County Jail after posting $5,000 bail.

His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 31 before District Judge David J. Barton.