Man faces multiple assault charges

PULLMAN — A man initially arrested a fourth-degree assault charge now faces multiple charges after allegedly attacking multiple law enforcement officers.

Darien Leaf Armstrong, 26, was arraigned Friday, Sept. 6, in Whitman County Superior Court on two counts of custodial assault were requested.

Trial was set for 9 a.m. Oct. 14.

The case began when officer Holden Humphrey was initially dispatched with other officers at 4:22 p.m. June 27 to 845 S.E. Spring St. for a report of an assault. There, Armstrong was arrested for threatening and hitting a man later identified as Christopher Hundahusen, Humphrey reported.

After being transported to a holding facility, Humphrey reported he was able to walk Armstrong into the facility without issue, removing the handcuffs once inside, records show.

“This was also standard procedure for a cooperative prisoner, so they do not have to be in the handcuffs any longer than necessary,” Humphrey said.

According to police records, Armstrong began acting in an assaultive manner and lunged to hit Humphrey several times causing him to pull out his taser, threatening use.

Extra help was called in bringing in Pullman Officer Heidi Lambley, Officer Luv St. Andre and Sgt. Todd Dow, who are reported to have had to help put Armstrong in a restraint chair, records show. Armstrong allegedly kicked Andre and head-butted Lambley.

“This was not a hard strike but showed me he was doing everything he could to try to harm us as we struggled with him,” Humphrey said in police records.

Armstrong allegedly spit into Lambley’s eye and mouth causing the officers to put a spit hood on him preventing him from continuing to spit on them, records show.

Armstrong was transported to the Whitman County Jail and charged with six counts of third-degree assault.

Humphrey reports he received injuries to his arm and back as a result of overexertion from trying to restrain Armstrong, records show.

“I was exerting all my energy for an extended period of time because I knew if I stopped Armstrong would assault me or another officer,” Humphrey said.

Armstrong is reported to have assaulted officers within the jail June 29.

Armstrong hit Whitman County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Officer Kevin Hill, punching him in the face and then the chest, records show.

Later that day, Jail Cmdr. Anderson was punched in the chest by Armstrong while attempting to get him on court via Zoom, records show.