Mom uses daughter as Taser shield, cops say

What? You've never gotten sloshed, assaulted the cable guy, then taken your kid hostage to prevent cops from Tasering you?

Cynthia Roberts did, according to Upper Darby police, and it has landed her in the Delaware County prison on charges of public drunkenness, child endangerment, resisting arrest and related offenses.

Cops say Roberts, 49, clocked a Comcast technician in the face when he tried to shut off her cable at her Timberlake Road home Sunday afternoon.

"Apparently, she had been drinking," said police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.

When the cable guy called police, Roberts locked herself in a bathroom and refused to come out, so officers forced the door open, Chitwood said. As an officer pulled a Taser and got the drop on Roberts, mom had another good idea.

"They were pinpointing her with the laser on the Taser because of her being out of control. She grabbed the 11-year-old daughter and put her in front of her as a shield," Chitwood said.

Police were eventually able to pry the girl loose.

"Fortunately, the officers didn't fire," Chitwood said. "They would have tased an 11-year-old."

In addition to the charges that have already been filed, Chitwood said he's asking Children & Youth Services to investigate Roberts.