11 Investigates: Police sergeant accused of shoving handcuffed, shackled juvenile

PITTSBURGH — A veteran Pittsburgh Police sergeant who faced controversy before is now back in the news.

Chief Investigator Rick Earle has learned that Sgt. Gene Hlavac is accused of shoving a 15-year-old suspect with so much force that the handcuffs left an indentation on the police department wall.

Sources told Earle it happened last week at the Zone 3 department in Allentown.

The suspect, who was handcuffed and shackled to a bench in the police department, was apparently speaking loudly when the sergeant became irritated, got up, walked over to the teen and pushed him with two hands.

The teen fell over the bench and into the wall.

It’s unclear if he suffered any injuries.

The incident was captured on the department’s surveillance video camera system.

Hlavac has been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation.

Attorney Phil DiLucente has represented Hlavac in the past and spoke on his behalf Monday afternoon.

“He’s been doing this for 31 years and he gave his life to law enforcement, and so I can tell you this, he is someone who always is trying to do the right thing under the circumstances but there’s always two sides to a story. And he respects the process so much that he’s going to let it play out,” said DiLucente, who declined to talk about the specific incident and allegations.

Hlavac, who was fired in 2010, but then reinstated after being cleared of a domestic abuse charge, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

In 2015, Hlavac was praised for firing a shot that stopped an out-of-control car that had just hit an officer near PPG Arena.

“I can tell you he always tries to follow all the guidance and laws that are on the books as well as the internal procedures, so we’ll see where this eventually comes out,” said DiLucente.

A public information officer for the city said the incident is under investigation and the sergeant is on administrative leave.

The Black Political Empowerment Project has requested a full report on the incident.

Earle reached out to the mayor’s office to see if they were aware and if they had seen the video.

A spokesperson for the mayor said they had no comment.

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