Pittsburgh Settles Lawsuits Alleging Police Brutality

Pittsburgh City Council today approved payments totaling nearly $70,000 to settle federal lawsuits filed by two men -- one a convicted bank robber -- alleging police brutality.

Oct. 18, 2011

Pittsburgh City Council today approved payments totaling nearly $70,000 to settle federal lawsuits filed by two men -- one a convicted bank robber -- alleging police brutality.

So far this year, Pittsburgh, which is self-insured, has paid at least $360,500 to settle lawsuits filed against police.

The city will pay $6,000 to John J. McAleavey Jr. of Ridgemont, who led police on a high-speed chase through rush hour traffic in 2008 after robbing the National City Bank in Banksville.

McAleavey claimed more than a dozen officers pummeled him after the 20-mile chase through traffic-congested South Hills and Route 28, which ended when he crashed at the Highland Park Bridge. He pleaded guilty to more than 40 charges and is serving a 10- to 20-year prison sentence.

Council also approved a $61,290 payment to Robert Rucker of Penn Hills and his Downtown attorney Kelly Scanlon Graham for costs, lawyer fees and interest. A federal jury ruled in August that police used excessive force in 2006 when arresting Rucker during a domestic violence call. Rucker claimed police used a Taser and beat him for no reason.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service