Detectives accuse constables of assaulting Munhall grandmother
Monday - Dec. 15, 2014
By Margaret Harding
Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, 6:09 p.m.
Updated less than a minute ago
Two state constables handcuffed a grandmother and dragged her out of her Munhall home by her feet because she failed to pay a parking ticket, according to criminal charges filed Monday.
Detectives with the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office charged Christian Constantini, 26, of Hazelwood and Michael Lowman, 45, of Mt. Washington, with official oppression, simple assault, reckless endangerment and conspiracy.
Lowman could not be reached for comment.
His attorney, Al Burke, said he had not seen the criminal complaint and couldn't comment. Constantini referred comment to his attorney, Blaine Jones.
?Christian was there to serve a lawful arrest warrant,? Jones said. ?He performed his duties in a professional manner.?
According to the criminal complaint, Constantini and Lowman went to Esther Peyton's home on Timberwood Drive on Oct. 14 to serve a warrant for non-payment of a Pittsburgh parking ticket.
Peyton called her cousin, West Homestead police Chief Christopher Deasy, and he asked her to give the phone to the constable to speak with him, the complaint said.
Peyton told investigators Constantini knocked the phone out of her hand and told her he was taking her to jail.
Peyton said Constantini refused to show her the warrant or related paperwork, but said she owed $104.
The constables handcuffed Peyton while her daughter ran downstairs to get a check.
Peyton and her daughter told investigators that when she returned with the check, Constantini crumpled it and threw it to the ground and said they don't accept checks.
The daughter said she offered to get cash from an ATM, but the constables ignored her and dragged Peyton out of the house by her feet, the complaint said.
Peyton told investigators she was frightened and fell onto her back while she was checking on her younger daughter and 5-year-old grandson.
Deasy, the West Homestead chief, told investigators he could hear screaming and crying on the phone line with male voice yelling ?shut up.?
A judge arraigned Peyton and released her on her own recognizance.
Allegheny County Common Pleas President Judge Jeffrey A. Manning said the district attorney's office can file a motion to suspend the constables, but he was not aware that one had been filed.
Mike Manko, spokesman for the DA's office, declined to comment on prosecutors' plans.
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Monday - Dec. 15, 2014
By Margaret Harding
Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, 6:09 p.m.
Updated less than a minute ago
Two state constables handcuffed a grandmother and dragged her out of her Munhall home by her feet because she failed to pay a parking ticket, according to criminal charges filed Monday.
Detectives with the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office charged Christian Constantini, 26, of Hazelwood and Michael Lowman, 45, of Mt. Washington, with official oppression, simple assault, reckless endangerment and conspiracy.
Lowman could not be reached for comment.
His attorney, Al Burke, said he had not seen the criminal complaint and couldn't comment. Constantini referred comment to his attorney, Blaine Jones.
?Christian was there to serve a lawful arrest warrant,? Jones said. ?He performed his duties in a professional manner.?
According to the criminal complaint, Constantini and Lowman went to Esther Peyton's home on Timberwood Drive on Oct. 14 to serve a warrant for non-payment of a Pittsburgh parking ticket.
Peyton called her cousin, West Homestead police Chief Christopher Deasy, and he asked her to give the phone to the constable to speak with him, the complaint said.
Peyton told investigators Constantini knocked the phone out of her hand and told her he was taking her to jail.
Peyton said Constantini refused to show her the warrant or related paperwork, but said she owed $104.
The constables handcuffed Peyton while her daughter ran downstairs to get a check.
Peyton and her daughter told investigators that when she returned with the check, Constantini crumpled it and threw it to the ground and said they don't accept checks.
The daughter said she offered to get cash from an ATM, but the constables ignored her and dragged Peyton out of the house by her feet, the complaint said.
Peyton told investigators she was frightened and fell onto her back while she was checking on her younger daughter and 5-year-old grandson.
Deasy, the West Homestead chief, told investigators he could hear screaming and crying on the phone line with male voice yelling ?shut up.?
A judge arraigned Peyton and released her on her own recognizance.
Allegheny County Common Pleas President Judge Jeffrey A. Manning said the district attorney's office can file a motion to suspend the constables, but he was not aware that one had been filed.
Mike Manko, spokesman for the DA's office, declined to comment on prosecutors' plans.
Read more: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/7385669-74/peyton-constantini-constables#ixzz3M11igQne
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