PITTSBURGH — The Department of Justice has denied a request to open a civil rights investigation into the officers accused of beating a man during an arrest in 2010, Channel 11’s Aaron Martin has learned.
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"This case was fully and exhaustively investigated,” U.S. Attorney David Hickton said.
Joel Sanson, Jordan Miles' attorney, made the request Tuesday morning and was denied that afternoon.
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“…Asking that the Justice Department open an investigation through their civil rights division into this officer and his conduct and the other officers to determine whether or not racism was the order of the day in the beating of Jordan Miles,” Sanson said.
Sanson also filed a notice of appeal to introduce evidence that was not allowed the first time.
He said the evidence was testimony from a woman who said one of the officers involved used a racial slur when describing Miles, and said his only regret was that he did not kill Miles.
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Tim McNulty, Communications Manager for Mayor Bill Peduto, released the following statement Tuesday:
"When the jury delivered its verdict a year and a half ago Mayor Peduto called for city communities and police to begin a period of healing and rebuilding trust. Through the hiring of a new police chief and by working with the federal government on the best practices in community policing, he is glad to see that healing underway."
Miles’ case is just one of a few big cases that have brought similar allegations against the Pittsburgh Police Department.
From teacher Dennis Henderson’s unprovoked arrest in Homewood that was captured on video to Paul Parrish being pulled from his car and pistol whipped, the city had used more than $4.9 million tax dollars since 2010 to settle more than 28 civil rights-related lawsuits filed against Pittsburgh police.
“I'm happy for Paul Parrish, but I'm saddened to know that our city of Pittsburgh police has corrupt individuals that would go so far to pistol whip an unarmed man,” Todd Hollis, Parrish’s defense attorney, said.
Peduto said that many of these cases happened under previous administrations and added that current police Chief Cameron McLay, who started last September, has been working hard to change the culture of the department.
In early August, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch came to Pittsburgh as part of a pilot program and met with community leaders to discuss ways to improve police and community relations. During that meeting, McLay said the department is on the right track.
“We've got our challenges, but if you look at what's happening nationally in other cities our size, we're doing really, really well,” he said.
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