Moustafa Ayad and Steve Levin Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)
Two Pittsburgh detectives, one of them the son of Allegheny County police Superintendent Charles Moffatt, were charged with assaulting Hanover Township police officers at a country music concert over the weekend.
Detectives Patrick Michael Moffatt, 38, of the homicide squad, and Joseph Mark Simunovic, 39, of the sex assault/family crisis division, are accused of fighting several township officers at a Toby Keith concert at the Post-Gazette Pavilion.
Both were charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
Detective Moffatt was additionally charged with obstruction of the administration of law and Detective Simunovic was charged with additional aggravated and simple assault charges. They face a preliminary hearing in Washington County next Wednesday.
Detective Moffatt's sister, Bridget Moffatt, 31, of Coraopolis, was also involved in the altercation, police said. The Moffatts are Superintendent Moffatt's daughter and son. Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper said the two detectives have been temporarily reassigned to uniformed street duty pending the outcome of their cases. He said internal affairs will investigate the incident.
Chief Harper said the two detectives did not have previous disciplinary problems.
"We expect our officers, even when off duty, to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times," Chief Harper said. Departmental charges can follow the adjudication of their case, the chief said.
According to an affidavit filed in Washington County, the incident began when Hanover officers responded to a disturbance in the parking lot after the show.
"The defendants became very hostile and began to ridicule the on-scene officers and said they did not have to listen to the officers," the affidavit states.
Detective Simunovic tried to assault Hanover police Officer Jacob Stevenson by moving toward him and saying, "I will show you something," the report says.
When Officer Stevenson pinned Detective Simunovic to a vehicle in an attempt to arrest him, Detective Moffatt charged at another Hanover officer, tackled and then choked him. That officer was able to break free and another officer grabbed Detective Moffatt to restrain him.
As this was happening, Sean Patrick Foley, who was with Detective Moffatt and Detective Simunovic, threw punches at another officer's face, the affidavit says.
While Hanover officers attempted to restrain the men, Bridget Moffatt reached across Lance Cpl. Sean Conn's back and placed "her hands on his duty weapon and waist area." Ms. Moffatt was restrained and charged with trying to disarm a law enforcement officer.
Officers who work events at the concert venue are certified as Hanover police officers, but do not patrol the community.
In 2003, Joseph Trone, a captain with the Aliquippa Fire Department, attended a Toby Keith concert with his wife and 9-year-old son and claimed he was assaulted by a police officer as they waited for the singer's entourage to step off stage.
The township settled a lawsuit filed by Mr. Trone for $180,000. Officers had charged him with disorderly conduct. The charge was later dismissed.
In January 2005, the township agreed to pay a Pittsburgh police officer $50,000 after he said police falsely arrested him after a Brooks & Dunn concert. Lt. Kevin Kraus said he was manhandled by township officers at the July 2002 concert when he stopped his sport utility vehicle to speak to other city officers.
Information From: AP Wire Services
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