Cop sues cop on abuse claims
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A 2010 incident that pitted police against police is now the subject of a lawsuit in which an Allegheny County officer said that Springdale Borough officers roughed him up, baselessly charged him and lied about it all.
The complaint, filed today in U.S. District Court by county Officer Ray Hrabos, said that Springdale Officer Mark Thom pulled a gun on him and pushed him into a snow bank during a brief dispute over a blocked street. Another Springdale officer later filed charges against Officer Hrabos, most of which were dismissed at the district judge level. The last charge -- disorderly conduct -- was thrown out and mocked by a judge on appeal.
"If this can happen to Officer Hrabos, then who among us is safe from police officers who are willing to lie?" asked attorney Timothy P. O'Brien, who is representing the officer. "Any citizen can be in the same context as Officer Hrabos, where two or three police officers or public officials can fabricate charges if they're willing to state something that wasn't true."
Mr. Hrabos, 50, of Springdale, said in an interview today that he was driving down snow-clogged Center Street on his way home from work at 10:30 p.m. when his progress was blocked by a truck.
He waited, beeped his horn, then exited and asked the driver to please proceed, he said.
In the truck were Springdale officers John Walls and Mark Thom, who were also going home after work, but who had stopped at the behest of Borough Councilman Daniel Copeland.
Mr. Copeland, according to testimony in the criminal case, wanted special dispensation to leave his vehicle on the street during the snow emergency, because his wife was pregnant.
Officer Hrabos said that Officer Thom briefly pulled his firearm, put it back, then "walked up, and he hit me right in the throat and I fell back into the snow bank."
Officer Hrabos said he continually identified himself as a police officer, and then threatened to tell the district attorney about Officer Thom, warning another Springdale officer, "He's crazy, he's going to kill somebody."
Officer Hrabos was not arrested, and did not report the incident, but weeks later was charged by mail with harassment, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.
District Judge David Sosovicka threw out all but the final charge.
Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Robert Gallo dismissed the disorderly conduct charge on appeal, telling both sides the matter "should have been settled that night. ... This is insane to come down here on this case. Just insane to even bring it here, this far."
Officer Hrabos said he was not worried about being ostracized for suing other officers.
"Wrong is wrong, and this needs to be righted," he said.
The complaint seeks compensation for injuries, costs, emotional distress and damage to Officer Hrabos' reputation.
First Published January 11, 2012 2:47 pm
