Man Elbowed Cop in Head, Was Wanted on 4 Warrants, Affidavit Says

An Easton man wanted on four warrants for crimes including selling drugs, theft and assault was apprehended on Monday, but not before putting up a fight that left a police officer injured, according to court papers.

Jamarcus Ahmaad Fennell, 23, was taken into custody Monday at a little after noon at The Eastonian at 140 Northampton St.

But in an affidavit of probable cause, Easton Patrolman Philip McGuigan wrote that Fennell pushed him, pulled his hand away and tried to run. While McGuigan tried to get control of Fennell, the suspect struck the officer in the left side of his head with an elbow, causing a bruise, police said.

For that, Fennell had charges of aggravated assault, escape, simple assault and resisting arrest added to what was already a lengthy list.

The oldest and most serious of the charges dates back to Feb. 5, when Fennell allegedly sold four packets of heroin to a confidential police informant.

At the time, according to an arrest affidavit, Fennell, who went by the street name of “Cool,” was believed to be selling heroin from his workplace, the South Easton Dunkin’ Donuts shop at 700 Philadelphia Road.

After the informant made arrangements to buy heroin, officers observed as Fennell walked out of the shop, into the parking lot, and exchanged packets for pre-recorded cash, police said.

For that, Fennell is being charged with delivery of heroin and criminal use of a cell phone, both felonies.

Three other warrants stem from crimes Fennell allegedly committed against a woman identified in two of the affidavits as his girlfriend.

The first of these incidents happened in Bethlehem on July 5, when Fennell allegedly stole the woman’s purse from her car, which was parked on the 300 block of Brodhead Avenue. There was about $800 cash inside the purse, Bethlehem police said.

On July 17, according to Easton police, Fennell beat the woman at her Church Street apartment, causing “visible and painful injuries to her head/face, chest, both arms, torso area and both legs.”

The woman, who spoke with police the day after the alleged assault, also said “that Jamarcus had threatened to kill her during the assault and she is in fear of him,” according to another arrest warrant.

For that, Easton police filed charges of simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment.

Fennell returned to the apartment on the morning of July 18 and brought another man, identified in another affidavit as Drew Freeman. Freeman, who was arrested at the scene, told police that a man named “Jamarcus” allowed him into the apartment to help him carry a television to a pawn shop.

Fennell had managed to escape through a second-floor window and a rooftop, police said.

The woman, now identified in this affidavit as Fennell’s ex-girlfriend, said Fennell had called her and threatened to sell her television if she did not return with her car and her money.

For this incident, Fennell was charged with felony trespassing.

Fennell was arraigned on all of the charges Monday night before on-duty District Judge Diane Marakovits of Northampton. The bail total for all five warrants was $23,000, which he did not post. He was subsequently committed to Northampton County Prison.