Citizen Police Review Board investigating arrests after Homewood community meeting

PITTSBURGH — The Citizen Police Review Board has launched an investigation into the arrest of a schoolteacher in Homewood on Wednesday night.

Dennis Henderson shot cellphone video as he was handcuffed by a Pittsburgh police officer outside a community meeting, and now, the executive director of the Citizen Police Review Board is raising questions about the officer’s conduct.

“The individual officer’s conduct as described to us so far is something that should not be tolerated by the city,” said Beth Pittinger of the Citizen Police Review Board.

The officer, however, said Henderson became aggressive and wouldn’t comply with his demands.

Henderson said the officer was out of line and began questioning him and freelance reporter Rossano Stewart after Henderson accused the officer of driving too fast and nearly hitting the men standing next to his car.

“I'm not disrespectful. I wasn't being belligerent. If he would have pulled over and said, ‘Excuse me, guys. could you go on the sidewalk?’ Or even, ‘Hey, boys, could you go on the sidewalk?’ No problem,” said Henderson.

The police officer in question remains on duty at Zone 5, but Pittinger believes he should be removed from duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

“There is absolutely no reason for a police officer to conduct him or herself in such a disrespectful manner. I don't care what somebody says to them. They are expected to hold themselves to a higher standard,” said Pittinger.

Related Story:
Reporter, teacher handcuffed following confrontation with officer in Homewood

WPXI