SMDH! A mistrial was declared Wednesday on all counts except one in Jordan Miles’ civil rights lawsuit against three Pittsburgh police officers, as the jury found itself hopelessly deadlocked and declined to award any damages.
“This is not the end. This is just one round,” said Kerry Lewis, one of Miles’ attorneys.
The jury could only agree on one count of malicious prosecution, finding that Officers David Sisak, Michael Saldutte and Richard Ewing did not maliciously prosecute Miles, as he had accused the three men of doing.
“It’s a good win for us,” said Sisak’s lawyer, James Wymard. “We said all along, once this case was exposed to the light of daylight, these allegations would not stand,” said Ewing’s lawyer, Robert Leight.
Ewing said the officers weren’t allowed to comment as he and Saldutte left the U.S. Courthouse downtown. Sisak was on vacation with his family and did not attend court Wednesday.
Miles, 20, declined to comment, as did his mother and his sister. His other attorney, Tim O’Brien said, “There will be a new trial on the most important issue: Was there excessive force?”
Miles claimed police used excessive force by choking him and hitting him in the head with a hard object after he was handcuffed. He said he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and short-term memory problems that will keep him from completing a college education and realizing his full personal and earning potential.
A claim of wrongful arrest must also be tried again. It deals specifically with the question of whether the officers had reasonable suspicion, on the spot, to arrest Miles.
Saldutte’s union lawyer, Bryan Campbell, said the verdict shows the jury believed the officers’ story: “He was the one who got out and engaged him in the conversation, and when he didn’t get proper answers to the questions he was asking, he had a reasonable belief that he might be involved in some criminal activity, and he did what a police officer has to do given that belief, and the jury believed that.”
What do you think? A mistrial…really?
via BMS
