WILKES-BARRE — Five state troopers are accused of police brutality from March 2010.
The five state policemen standing trial at Federal Court in Wilkes-Barre are Trooper Andrew Burian, Trooper Matthew Knock, Trooper Thad Warnick, Trooper Scott Refner and Corporal Roger Stipcak.
All five were in the federal courtroom in Wilkes-Barre today as a civil lawsuit against them went to trial claiming police brutality.
Robert Leone, who says he was beaten by police, was also present, looking dramatically different than how he looked in his March 2010 mug shot. Leone had 24 charges related to the incident, but all were dropped except four misdemeanors.
Lawyers for Leone showed jurors dash cam video taken before during and after Leone’s arrest.
They told the jury: “You’re verdict will speak to society and tell police what is acceptable and what isn’t.”
Leone’s lawyers say he is mentally ill and was driving in March 2010, when he hit a woman’s car and kept going. She called 911, and soon four police cruisers, with sirens on and lights flashing, were trying to stop Leone.
As Leone was driving through Towanda, his lawyers told the jury he was going the speed limit and was allegedly unaware of police, possibly because of a high dosage of prescribed bipolar medicine.
But lawyers for the five officers, said in court that “the level of force used was appropriate and necessary, because the troopers didn’t know what they were up against,” especially after following Leone for 20 minutes.
Lawyers for Leone say, however, if officers were concerned for their safety, they shouldn’t have rushed to Leone’s vehicle after it became immobile.
The civil trial is expected to last through the week.
