PITTSBURGH — The Duquesne police chief was arrested and charged with witness intimidation related to an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a teen girl.
According to a criminal complaint for Thomas Dunlevy, on Aug. 15, the Bethel Park Police Department responded to a report of a statutory sexual assault wherein 20-year-old Nathan Daniel Beck was alleged to have engaged in sexual acts with a 15-year-old female inside a Bethel Park residence. The assault was reported by the victim’s father who is a witness in the case. Beck was a volunteer firefighter for the City of Duquesne and a friend of the City of Duquesne’s Police Chief, Thomas Dunlevy.
Bethel Park detectives issued an arrest warrant and Dunlevy was present at his friend’s arraignment in August.
In late October, the girl’s father called Bethel Park investigators and said Dunlevy had just paid him a visit at his autobody shop in Hazelwood. Court documents said the father told police Dunlevy had a manila folder with him. The girl’s father said Dunlevy told him the folder contained “potential evidence” that could be used in his friend’s trial, that it showed the victim’s father provided alcohol to the suspect and that CYF could get involved and take his children away. The man said “he felt pressured to drop the case” and denied ever providing alcohol.
County police investigators were requested to look into the alleged encounter and watched it unfold on surveillance video. They asked Dunlevy to come in for an interview and he confirmed that he visited the girl’s father at his shop, talked about potential evidence that could come out in a trial and that he and the suspect in the sexual assault case were friends.
Dunlevy was arrested and charged with intimidation of witnesses or victims, intimidation in a child abuse case, official oppression and obstructing administration of law or other government function.
He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
The Mayor of Duquesne, Nickole Nesby, sent Channel 11 a statement:
“During my tenure as Mayor, I have tried to highlight and correct issues within the City of Duquesne’s Police Department. Some may say it cost me the election.
When we promoted Chief Thomas Dunlevy, the community was open for change. After several complaints from the community, our Citizen Police Review Board, and the incident with Ms. Harper, I pushed for disciplinary action and termination. However, the Council ignored my request (as they have several times during my term) and even censured me.
Much of what I have highlighted as Mayor is documented. I have no further comment at this time. Additional comments and questions can be addressed by the incoming Mayor Richard Scott Adams.”
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