Darnell Ferguson.Photo:Stephen J. Cohen/Getty
Stephen J. Cohen/Getty
According to the warrant, filed with the Kentucky Court of Justice and served on Jan. 9, Darnell, 36, was arrested in St. Matthews on felony charges of burglary and strangulation. He also faces misdemeanor charges including assault, terroristic threatening, menacing, criminal mischief and theft-receipt of a stolen credit or debit card.
According to the warrant, Tatahda claimed she was unable to breathe and lost consciousness.
“When victim regained consciousness, she was on the floor and [Darnell] then ripped off the victim’s shorts, causing a scratch to victim’s upper thigh,” the warrant alleges. “After ripping victim’s shorts, [Darnell] demanded to see victim’s private area and told victim she was his and no one else’s.”
The warrant further claims that Tatahda told police that Darnell’s alleged actions “placed her in fear of being sexually assaulted.” Before Darnell left the home, he allegedly took Tatahda’s credit/debit card and her ID, according to the warrant.
Police were called to the home and took photos of the alleged victim’s injuries, which included “redness, scratches and pain to her neck and a scratch to her upper thigh,” the warrant alleges. She was subsequently taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
Darnell’s attorney, Krsna Tibbs, provided a statement to PEOPLE in light of the allegations against his client.
“Darnell and his wife are separated, and are working together to find a new balance for their family,” he said. “They had a disagreement on January 2 that was subsequently reported to the authorities in a misleading and false manner. We are hopeful that these issues will be resolved shortly and in a way that is least disruptive to their blended family of eight children.”
“We ask at this time for privacy for Darnell and the entire family so that they can heal and continue to work on coparenting as they move forward with their divorce,” the statement concluded.
PEOPLE couldn’t immediately identify an attorney for Tatahda.
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Darnell is described on theFood Network websiteas a celebrity chef, restaurateur and entrepreneur, who currently hostsSuperchef Grudge Match. In early 2023, he co-hosted Season 25 ofWorst Cooks in AmericaalongsideAnne Burrell.
Darnell’s case history file states he was court ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. He is expected back in Jefferson County District Court for his preliminary hearing on Jan. 18.
source: people.com
