Pittsburgh police officers involved in Taser incident before man’s death hire defense attorneys

PITTSBURGH — Sources tell Channel 11 the officers involved in the Bloomfield taser incident that lead up to Jim Rogers’ death have hired criminal defense attorneys.

Channel 11′s Gabriella DeLuca spoke to Pittsburgh’s Public Safety Director, Wendell Hissrich about it, and he said it doesn’t surprise him, and hiring defense attorneys in these situations is not uncommon.

“Let me offer my condolences to the family of Mr. Rogers. Obviously anytime anyone dies in police custody, it’s a concern,” director Hissrich said.

Weeks after Rogers’ death, we’ve learned the officers involved have hired criminal defense attorneys.

“As far as the officers obtaining their own attorneys, that’s their right by the law, and the right by the collective bargaining agreement. It doesn’t surprise me, and it’s not uncommon for that to occur,” Hissrich added.

Defense attorney Phil DiLucente told Channel 11 that hiring a criminal defense attorney does not imply that the officers are guilty of a crime.

“Just because an individual, a police officer or others, hires a criminal defense attorney, does not mean that they have done anything criminal. It means they want to protect themselves from any potential investigation,” DiLucente said.

Allegheny County police are investigating the actual incident, and Director Hissrich told Channel 11 Pittsburgh police have their own internal investigation.

“We immediately launched an internal investigation to find out if there are any administrative policies that were not followed, or how this can be prevented in the future,” Hissrich said.

Mayor Peduto’s office is also still waiting on the outcome of county investigation.

Activists demand officer at center of Bloomfield taser incident be fired

“We very intentionally put up a large wall between us and the county so there is a full independent investigation, and rely on the county to do their work,” said Dan Gilman, chief of staff for Mayor Peduto’s office.

Rogers died at the hospital a day after he was tased by Pittsburgh police. Neighbors told Channel 11 that Rogers took a ride on a bike that was for sale and brought it back.

Police showed up to the scene, and a spokesperson said Rogers was “non-compliant” when he was being arrested.

Cell phone video shows the officer firing a Taser, Rogers trying to run away, then falling to the ground.

“Until the county completes their investigation, our hands are tied as far as what we can say, and what we can’t say,” Hissrich said.

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