May 09--A Carrick woman whose house was damaged and son was injured when city of Pittsburgh police entered her home and arrested her husband filed a lawsuit today in U.S. District Court.
Georgeia Moreno said that police were seeking her husband, William Moreno, because of his involvement in a Dec. 6, 2010, fight at the Polish Falcons in which an officer was injured. As around a dozen black-clad officers came into her house on the evening of Dec. 7, she said, one said, "You think you can get one of ours and we're not going to get you?"
That statement was made, she said, after flash grenades were set off all around the house and force was used to break in the front and back doors. Mr. Moreno was quickly handcuffed, pursuant to an arrest warrant, but the police didn't stop there, she said.
Officers handcuffed Ms. Moreno and held her at rifle-point, kicking her when she prayed, she said.
They broke down the bathroom door and removed her 10-year-old son from the shower, and questioned him while he was naked, she said. The boy injured his ankles when police dragged him, she said.
An officer wrenched the surgically repaired shoulder of her stepfather, Mark Staymates, causing injury that will require a second operation, said Mr. Staymates.
They did around $10,000 in damage to the home, roughly half of which was covered by insurance.
"Everything was done wrong," said attorney Timothy P. O'Brien, who is representing the Moreno family. "Everything they did was in complete disregard of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution" barring unreasonable searches and seizures.
The officers could have easily arrested Mr. Moreno, who was already on federal parole, without entering the house, he said. The warrant they had allowed them to enter the house and make an arrest, but not to further search the house or question residents, he added.
City Solicitor Dan Regan could not be immediately reached for comment.
The lone officer identified in the complaint is Michael Reddy. Also defendants are the city, Police Chief Nate Harper and 10 unnamed officers.
Mr. Moreno is serving an 8 1/2 to 20-year sentence for aggravated assault for his role in the bar fight.
Rich Lord: [email protected] or 412-263-1542.
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