Cable dispute turns ugly for Upper Darby woman

An Upper Darby woman is being held by police after allegedly assaulting a cable technician and shielding herself with her 11-year-old daughter to keep the police from Tasering her.

Police said Cynthia Roberts, 49, got into a verbal altercation with a Comcast cable technician who had come to her home on the 400 block of Timberlake Drive to shut off her cable due to non-payment. As the altercation grew heated, Roberts allegedly punched the technician, who then called 911. When the police arrived, Roberts fled into her home.

Roberts locked herself in a bathroom, and when she refused to open the door, police forced their way in. After Roberts was brought out, police said she was hysterical.

“She was completely out of control, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, we don’t know which. She was highly agitated,” said police superintendent Michael Chitwood.

Police said they were about to Taser Roberts but she pulled her 11-year-old daughter into the line of fire and hid behind her. They did not fire the Taser and struggled with Roberts to remove the child from her grip.

Roberts is charged with child endangerment, resisting arrest, public drunkenness and assault. She is being held on $50,000 bail and her hearing is scheduled for Oct. 18.

Roberts’ daughter was taken by family members after the incident. Police have referred the case to Child and Youth Services for a formal investigation of Roberts.