PITTSBURGH — A woman injured during a police chase that began in the city of Pittsburgh has just filed a civil lawsuit against the city and a detective who chased the suspect.
Only Chief Investigator Rick Earle spoke with that woman’s attorney to learn why he believes this goes beyond negligence.
This woman is one of nine people who were injured during the crash.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 9 people injured in large crash in Wilkinsburg after driver flees police
She was just sitting in her car at a red light when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, an SUV slammed into her.
The victim’s attorney, Anthony Giannetti, says the woman was just out with some friends looking to have a good night out, and she essentially gets t-boned.
The speeding SUV crashed into multiple vehicles, injuring nine people, in Wilkinsburg last November after fleeing from police who had stopped the driver for a suspected tinted window violation.
“She actually hits her face on the steering wheel, knocks her teeth out, multiple fractured ribs. She was at Presby for about five days for some pretty bad internal injuries,” Gianetti said.
Giannetti, on behalf of his client, has now filed a civil lawsuit against the owner of the car, the fleeing driver Dior Richardson, the city of pittsburgh and Detective John Abbondanza, who initially stopped the SUV.
“We believe it was more than negligent,” Giannetti said. “We believe it was reckless for the officer to initiate a chase at 80 mph through crowded city streets for a window tint violation.”
In the criminal complaint filed against Richardson, who, in addition to fleeing, is charged with illegal possession of a firearm, the detective wrote that he activated his lights and siren and began chasing the SUV for only a short time, and then ended the pursuit.
11 investigates first told you that Police Chief Jason Lando recommended a two-day suspension for that officer for allegedly violating the chase policy.
Public Safety Director Sheldon Williams overruled that and moved to fire him.
Sources tell 11 Investigates that officers are not allowed to chase for vehicle code violations, and they say the officer continued at a high rate of speed after turning off his lights and siren.
“They actually had a policy in effect to prevent this, and the policy was not followed,” Giannetti said. “I mean all that just confirms this never should have happened.”
Giannetti is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000 from the city and the detective.
While that detective is facing disciplinary action by the city and now this civil lawsuit, he is not accused of any criminal wrongdoing.
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