A second lawsuit was filed today
against the city of Pittsburgh stemming from a 2010 arrest that was discredited
by video tape showing that the alleged drug transaction never occurred.
Plaintiff David Carpenter, 39, of
Perry South, was one of two people arrested and charged with drug offenses in a
July 7, 2010, bust at a car wash. The other, Timothy M. Joyce, sued the city in
March. Both cases are in U.S. District Court.
Both Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Joyce saw
charges dropped after video from a surveillance camera showed that no drug
exchange took place. The arresting officers, Kenneth Simon and Anthony
Scarpine, were charged with several crimes of falsehood but were not convicted.
Mr. Simon retired, and Mr. Scarpine was transferred to the bureau's Warrant
Office.
Allegheny County District Attorney
Stephen A. Zappala Jr. withdrew charges against several defendants in cases
that relied on affidavits from the two officers.
Mr. Carpenter's lawsuit said that he
was falsely arrested, maliciously prosecuted and subjected to anguish and
humiliation for which he should be compensated. The defendants are the city,
Mr. Simon and Mr. Scarpine.
"We're reviewing the
allegations that were made in the complaint, conducting an investigation into
the allegations and in the near future we will respond in our pleadings
accordingly," said city Solicitor Dan Regan.
Mr. Carpenter's attorney, James J.
Ross, could not be immediately reached.