OAKMONT, Pa.,None — A man is in the Allegheny County Jail after police said he threatened to kill them and judge David Sosovica during a traffic violation hearing on Wednesday.
Ramir Bell, 22, of Penn Hills exploded after being found guilty of a minor traffic violation in Oakmont, police said.
"As soon as he was found guilty, he became agitated, started throwing chairs and some other items throughout office. When officers tried to calm him down, he told them he was going to kill them and also the judge," said Lt. Otto Gaul of Harmar Township police.
The officers, one from Oakmont and the other from Harmar Township, had to restrain Bell, police said. When they put him into a holding cell, he was so combative that police said he broke the frame and door lock trying to escape.
Police said Bell also spit at police and banged his head against the cruiser.
Bell was only facing a $110 fine for the traffic citation.
"It's hard to say what's going set people off sometimes. There may be other factors contributing we don't know about," said Chief Dave Disanti of Oakmont police.
Police said a psychiatric evaluation will be conducted.
Bell is in jail on a $5,000 straight bond. Police said it's low because Bell has no priors.
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