PITTSBURGH — An Allegheny County resident is suing the city of Pittsburgh and its police department, alleging assault, false arrest and malicious prosecution.
Daniel Dellenbaugh filed a complaint on Aug. 20, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, against the city of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for alleged violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, under the Civil Rights Act.
Daniel Dellenbaugh allegedly was pursued and attacked by police officers on Aug. 16, 2016, when he claims he posed no threat to any officer or any member of the public.
He claims that the officers were pursuing armed robbery suspects and that he did not match the description of either the alleged driver of the car or the alleged robbery suspect. He did not have any active warrants, according to the complaint.
Despite such belief, defendants allegedly decided to proceed with the prosecution even without supported probable cause, according to his lawsuit.
The plaintiff holds the city of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police responsible, because the defendants allegedly engaged in a reckless investigation that resulted in a false arrest, as they failed to engage in fundamental police and/or investigative work, according to the complaint.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for damages, punitive damages, litigation costs, interest, court costs, attorney fees, and for any other relief which the court deems appropriate, whether legal or equitable.
He is represented by Frank C. Walker, II of Frank Walker Law in Clairton, Pennsylvania.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:18-cv-01108-CRE