[DOWNLOAD: Free WPXI apps for alerts as news breaks]. TV Q&A: Why no sports report on WPXIs 6 p.m. newscast anymore? Moore was also accused of assaulting the boy a second time in the same case. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. - Hunter S. Thompson, Press J to jump to the feed. He has been paid since being removed from the work schedule April 19. Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. VANDERGRIFT Vandergrift has suspended a police officer who had been the target of an internal investigation concerning his conduct . Townsend, 20, is a 2018 graduate of Kiski High School and a Vandergrift resident. Moore responded to a Westmoreland County 911 call on April 17, 2021, reporting that a Black male was smoking marijuana outside the eatery. Moore, who said he has been on vacation, said he hadn't yet seen the criminal complaint. Because I got called for you, Moore responded. William Moore is a police officer in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania is under investigation following a video filmed at a restaurant, which went viral on Twitter. The entire day we have been deeply saddened by what occurred today. 2023 Cox Media Group. About a dozen residents attended Thursdays meeting in support of Moore. Vandergrift Police Officer William Moore, who was suspended last month for unprofessional conduct, is back on duty. 949-724-7047 . Because I got called for you, Moore, who is white, can be heard responding. Townsend repeatedly asks Moore what he did wrong, but Moore doesnt specify why hes there. Posted on Apr 25, 2021Updated on Apr 26, 2021, 10:24 am CDT. Officer William Moore's unpaid suspension took effect Tuesday. Police were allegedly called after someone reported that a person was smoking marijuana outside of the establishment. Vandergrift resident Joseph Watt spoke in support of Vandergrift Officer William Moore during a special meeting on June 3, 2021, at the Vandergrift Municipal Building. After Townsend shows the cop his ID, he accuses Moore of racially profiling him. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Traffic Programs Supervisor Crossing Guards. William Moore, 49, of Route 66, Gilpin, is charged with two counts each of simple assault and harassment all misdemeanors. You can contact Joyce by email at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter . In a video, a white Vandergrift police officer, William Moore, tells. Moore declined to comment when reached Tuesday. according to our news partners at the Trib. A Vandergrift police officer has been charged with assault and harassment by Gilpin police. Council member Casimer Maszgay confirmed Tuesday that Moore returned to. Moore, 53, initiated a conversation with customer Marcus Townsend, 20, of Vandergrift inside the restaurant after responding to a Westmoreland County 911 report of a Black male smoking marijuana outside. I dont think he did anything wrong. No nothing like that, he told the news station. TribLive reported the charges stemmed from a report from the Armstrong County Children and Youth Services office, which said the boy was seen at school with a scratch on his arm. You are seeing this page to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 ("CCPA") and other California privacy laws. Townsend posted several videos on social media after the incident and was critical of Moores handling of it. I have no details, Vandergrift Mayor Lenny Collini said via text message. Townsend told the news station Moore initially asked for papers for the service dog. These allegations are being taken seriously by borough officials, Caporali told the newspaper. In addition to Moores departure, Officer Christian Disciscio quit to join the Washington Township Police Department. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Who is Sam Johnson? 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. Officer William Moore confronted the customer at G and G Restaurant. Council member Casimer Maszgay confirmed Tuesday that Moore returned to his beat last week. The man asks Moore to call his superior officer, to which Moore responds that he is a superior officer. Vandergrift Municipal Building on June 3, 2021. Vandergrift Council has suspended a longtime borough police officer. Moore was initially placed on paid leave last year while borough officials investigated an incident with a customer at G&G Restaurant on Columbia Avenue in Vandergrift. Because you are viewing this site from a location address that appears to be covered by the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 ("CCPA"), many of the features of TribLIVE.com -- like videos and social media elements -- are disabled. A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for next month. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Vento's Pizza, home of 'Franco's Italian Army,' to close, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Vandergrift Council has suspended a longtime borough police officer. As the videos racked up hundreds of thousands of views, the officer has since been confirmed by the Vandergrift Police Department as William Moore, and has been removed from duty while still being paid. Between the generous leave policies for police and creative re-scheduling of overtime after he returned he didn't lose a penny. During the heated exchange that spilled onto the sidewalk outside the restaurant, Townsend accused Moore of racial profiling. Vandergriff officer on leave after being accused of racially profiling Black man at Pennsylvania diner The exchange was captured by the alleged victim, Marcus Townsend. When asked by school employees how he got the injury, he said it was from an altercation with Moore. 949-724-7047 . Moore, for the timebeing, remains on the job. Click here if you wish to opt out and view the full site. You came straight to the Black dude sitting at the table, Townsend said on one clip. In an interview with WTAE, Townsend said that he initially went to the restaurant with his girlfriend and their service dog for breakfast. After the call, Moore approached Marcus Townsend, 20, of Vandergrift, and Townsend began filming. If you believe you have been sent to this page by accident, you can delete your TribLIVE.com cookies and proceed to the site. The video shows Officer William Moore confronting a man after receiving a report about a Black male smoking marijuana. Cop in Pennsylvania who sounds drunk racially profiles an innocent Black man pic.twitter.com/AUlFbRHciD, This is part 2 of drunk Officer William Moore with the Vandergrift Police in PA racially profiling an innocent Black man pic.twitter.com/wzNQONPNGp. 2. His online court records show he pleaded guilty to a summary count of harassment and paid a fine in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The report was transferred to the Gilpin police department, which filed the charges. They asked me the same question, how you feel about it. Yeah, because you were the one smoking weed, Moore replied. And its sad at the end of the day you know. The company's principal address is 31871 La . He was removed from duty in 2017 after police said he assaulted and threatened a 14-year-old boy. closing six more Pennsylvania branches, Suspected human remains found in basement of commercial Allegheny County building, VIDEO: Dog, owner left injured after attack in Pittsburgh, DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts, Explosive found in bag at Pennsylvania airport, man arrested, 3 people dead after 2 separate shootings in McKeesport; scenes not connected, police say, Woman, man dead after apparent murder-suicide in Penn Hills identified, New evidence presented in court against 14-year-old accused of killing teen in Carrick, Westmoreland County doctor arrested, charged with writing fraudulent prescriptions. Moore was placed on unpaid suspension June 8 by council after an internal investigation of an incident April 17 at G&G Restaurant on Columbia Avenue. Moore told another officer on the video, I already know who called., Cop in Pennsylvania who sounds drunk racially profiles an innocent Black man pic.twitter.com/AUlFbRHciD, Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) April 25, 2021. 949-724-7173 Ostrowski, Christopher. The incident was captured on video and went viral. (jwl) Officer William Moore confronted the customer at G and G Restaurant. signed by honorable anita b. brody on 2/27/23. William Moore, 49, of Route 66, Gilpin, is charged with two counts each of simple assault and. Council members approved the suspension during their regular meeting Monday night. On the video, Moore tells the man he was there because he was called there for him, and asks if he has any identification. (Vandergrift, PA is a small town outside of Pittsburgh) is seen openly racially profiling a black man. In a video, a white Vandergrift police officer, William Moore, tells Marcus Townsend, a Black man, that he was called because of Townsend. The videos show their conversations outside the restaurant, with another Vandergrift officer present. filing 28 memorandum denying 13 defendant's motion to dismiss. Moore also declined to comment about his reinstatement. If you keep getting redirected to this page, please enable cookies. Click here if you wish to opt out and view the full site. Officer William Moore, 50, of Gilpin, who has been with the borough's police department for 18 years, was suspended for two days without pay. All of the misdemeanors were dropped at his preliminary hearing, and his summary count of harassment was held for court. When the man refuses to give him identification, Moore calls for backup. Townsend denied smoking marijuana outside the restaurant. Officer William Moore submitted his retirement to council Feb. 7. Moore, who did not attend Thursdays meeting, could not be reached for comment. He reportedly appeared intoxicated and threatened to have the boy committed to a mental institution, court documents said. "Council accepted it (retirement) at the last meeting. Vandergrift Police Chief Joe Caporali said council hopes to hire new officers in March. A motion to suspend Moore was made and carried by council . The April incident was not the first time Moore has been placed on paid leave. The restaurant where the incident occurred, G&G Restaurant, posted on Facebook they were saddened by what happened and that they want everyone to feel comfortable there. The incident was captured on video and went. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Moore hired a private attorney to defend him. 5. Caporali did not tell the newspaper who called 911. Council members didnt publicly discuss the motion or their decision. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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