Holy crap. Rather than receive any responses here, you should contact Marc Reisman (ad on here) for an opinion. This sounds wrong, but then again, not an attorney.
2014-09-17 14:31:26
8
Police incident
A few weeks ago I was riding through the North Shore by PNC Park. I was taking my normal route when suddenly I heard someone yelling. I immediately turn around and saw a policeman directed me that the road was closed. Much to my surprise as I approached the officer he pulled me down to the ground! I was in shock but seemed unhurt. The officer demanded that I give him my name and I refused. I got back on the bike and continued on my way. Then a police car came after me with lights blaring. A different officer stopped me and again asked for my name, this time I complied. Several weeks later I received a $170 ticket in the mail for failing to follow a traffic signal. I have pleaded not-guilty and will go to traffic court to state my case. I'm interested in the opinion of other cyclists. Please comment. I believe I have a case against the officer that attacked me especially since I turned around in compliance with his direction. Also neither officer mentioned that a ticket was being issued? Can they do that? I did got the med-express after the incident I had bruised ribs and signs of a concussion.
2014-09-17 14:14:56
FWIW, people in this city have been beat a lot worse and with nothing to show for their trouble of pursuing justice
http://cprbpgh.org/
2014-09-17 15:24:05
My guess is that the first cop was on a secondary-detail while the second cop was actually on the job. This might complicate things. I'd give Reisman's office a call.
2014-09-17 15:27:20
Not to hijack the thread but does Reisman have free consultations?
2014-09-17 20:16:58
Pittsburgh has many virtues.
Police accountability is not one of them.
2014-09-17 20:20:28
Well you turned back to the officer and that sounds right,he pulled you down to the ground that sounds wrong .He asked you your name you did not give it that sounds wrong,,you left they cought up to you later you gave them the info the first officer asked for ..sounds like you ran off but maybe you had a good reason,,,,my first thought is no matter just do as they ask
2014-09-17 22:23:00
Need more info.
Since the charge was "failing to follow a traffic signal", was there a traffic signal that you didn't notice (or ignored)? Or does the charge relate to failing to follow the officer's direction? If the latter, how long was the officer directing you to turn around before you complied? Did you bike past him, for instance, while he was directing cars not to enter the closed road?
As for the officer pulling you off your bike, is it possible he thought you were trying to bike past him without stopping? Or run into him? Did you say anything to the officer as you approached?
It sounds like you didn't do anything about holding the police accountable for your injuries until you got the ticket, which suggests you didn't consider it a big deal.
The delay also might make it harder to find video of the incident. Without that, I suspect it would be really hard for you to prevail. If the road really was closed, and other traffic figured that out but you didn't, the ticket would probably stick. And if it's possible the officer thought you weren't complying with his directions, a judge would probably think it was OK that he physically removed you from your bike, even if you suffered some bruising as a result.
That's my guess anyway. Ask a lawyer if you want more than guesses from people with only half the facts.
2014-09-17 23:31:41