Jenkintown Police Department Photo by James Short.
The woman resisted arrest and spat on police, police said.
A knife-wielding woman on board a SEPTA bus was arrested after threatening riders in Jenkintown, police said. According to the Jenkintown Borough Police Department, officers were called to the area of York Road near West Avenue in Jenkintown on Saturday, Oct. 5 around 2:37 p.m.
Police reports stated that a report of a female on a bus was “waving a knife and threatening other passengers.” Upon arrival, police said they were able to locate the woman in the back of the bus who still had a knife in her hand.
The woman, who was later identified as Delbie Dunbar, 38, of the 100 block of West Ruscomb Street in Philadelphia, ignored police directives to put down the knife or surrender it to police, police said. According to reports, the police “snatched the knife out of her hands” when she was distracted and then escorted her off of the bus.
Once off the bus, police said that Dunbar began screaming and refused to give them identification. Police identified the woman, according to reports, and via a search of her name, discovered she had an active warrant in Philadelphia for an assault. Police said they then detained Dunbar, but upon attempting to handcuff her, she actively resisted by swinging her arms and kicking her legs.
According to reports, police then had to “take her to the ground to overcome her resistance.” Once taken to the ground, police said that they were able to handcuff Dunbar, temporarily subdue her resistance, with the assistance of Abington police, and then get her to her feet. Upon putting her in the backseat of the patrol vehicle, reports stated that Dunbar “actively tried to go after” arresting officers, while still handcuffed. Police said Dunbar spit in their faces at that time.
Dunbar is facing two felony charges of aggravated assault via attempts to cause serious bodily harm to designated individuals, as well as possession of an instrument of a crime with intent, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct, according to reports. She was released after paying a $5,000 monetary bail and is due in court on Oct. 21 for a preliminary hearing at 10:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Todd Stephens.
Dunbar was wanted on an outstanding warrant for assault in Philadelphia.
