Officer's injury puts strain on small department; suspect surrenders

DUQUESNE, Pa. — A burglary suspect is now in custody, accused of assaulting a police officer.

Days of searching for Duquesne assault suspect Richard Henley ended on the sidewalk in front of city court Thursday.

The 39-year-old was surrounded by family members and his lawyer when he surrendered to authorities.

According to police, Henley had been in hiding since Saturday, when he assaulted a Duquesne police officer in the parking lot of a J & S Mart on Grant Avenue.

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"This man is an innocent man until, if and when he's ever proven guilty," said Blaine Jones, Henley's defense attorney.

"I'm glad he's in custody," said Chief Thomas Dunlevy, of the Duquesne Police Department. "Anyone who is willing to fight and injure a police officer is certainly willing to hurt anyone else on the street."

According to Dunlevy, Henley burglarized a home on West Oliver Avenue in Duquesne on Saturday and, shortly after, when he was spotted by a Duquesne police officer, Henley, who is 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs well over 200 pounds, assaulted the officer.

"Henley attempted to leave. The officer went to stop him. Officer told him he was under arrest and, at that point, a fight ensued," Dunlevy said.

According to Dunlevy, the officer will be off the job for at least a month and, because the department is so small, his absence will make an impact.

"We only have 15 full-time officers," Dunlevy said. "Taking one person out of the mix certainly does put a strain on rest of the manpower."

Cox Media Group