Pittsburgh police officer Rachmiel Gallman kept a stone face as he left court Thursday afternoon, but his attorney assured Channel 11 he's happy with the hearing.
"Rachmiel is extremely happy today,” Blaine Jones said. “This was not done with malicious intent. The young lady is someone he cares about tremendously."
Gallman is charged with false imprisonment. According to the criminal complaint, he allegedly handcuffed and put leg shackles on the mother of his child after they wrestled around and tickled each other.
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The victim allegedly told Gallman to stop multiple times.
"He wasn't drinking, there weren't any threats, he didn't hit anyone, nothing like that,” Jones said. “It was just horseplay that went a little too far."
Gallman reached a deal with prosecutors – if he maintains good behavior and reaches certain benchmarks over the next six months, the charges will be withdrawn. He’ll have to attend classes during that timeframe, as well.
However, he is suspended indefinitely from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Jones hopes he can get his job back.
But Channel 11 has learned this isn't Gallman's first time in court. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and trespassing charges.
In a recent one-on-one interview, Mayor Bill Peduto called the city's past hiring practices uneven. He told Channel 11 a fair system exists now, one that gives second chances.
But he added domestic violence is an exception.
"It's an early indicator of what may happen when somebody's given a badge,” he said. “There's zero tolerance toward domestic violence within our employment."
Cox Media Group