A Wilkinsburg man is behind bars after police say he attacked an 8-year-old boy near a local playground, choking the child before exposing himself in a nearby alley.
Darnell Diggs is facing charges in connection with the disturbing incident, which happened earlier this week in Wilkinsburg.
According to police, the young boy had been playing at a park and was riding his scooter back home to Homewood when Diggs approached him and struck up a conversation.
What Happened in the Alley
Police say Diggs then dragged the boy into a nearby alley and began choking him. Once there, the criminal complaint states that Diggs exposed himself to the child and attempted to sexually assault him.
Surveillance footage in the area helped confirm the interaction between Diggs and the boy before the two moved off camera, according to court documents reviewed by investigators.
The boy was able to get away and ran home to tell his mother, Ashlyn Torres, what had happened. Torres described a rush of emotions after hearing her son’s account of the attack.
“I was angry, I was scared. I had the feeling of a headhunter because I wanted to go after the person who did this,” Torres told Channel 11.
Torres said she didn’t wait for police to arrive before searching for the man herself.
“I just grabbed the scooter, and I grabbed my phone and called 911. I used my kid’s scooter all the way to the park to go find this man,” she said.
Neighbors Say Warning Signs Were There
The arrest has shaken families in the Wilkinsburg neighborhood, where residents say children regularly walk to school bus stops, pass through the area, and play in the park where the incident is believed to have started.
Morisha Bey, a parent who lives near the park, said she wasn’t surprised to learn the area has a history of registered offenders living nearby.
“If you check Megan’s Law, Wilkinsburg lights up,” Bey said. “I’m so glad I didn’t have my kids outside.”
Bey added that she would have kept a closer eye on the area had she known just how serious the situation was before this latest incident came to light.
Diggs was taken into custody following the investigation, and he now faces charges related to the alleged assault and indecent exposure. It is not yet clear from court records what specific charges have been filed or whether Diggs has any prior criminal history in the area.
The incident has reignited concerns among parents in Wilkinsburg and surrounding communities about child safety near parks and playgrounds, especially as more families look up sex offender registries to check who lives nearby.
Police have not said whether they believe Diggs may be connected to any other incidents in the area, but neighbors say they plan to be more vigilant going forward.
Anyone with additional information about the incident is encouraged to contact local police. This story is developing, and updates will be provided as more details become available.
