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Trouble for Smith Township force means some suspects will go free
Washington County District Attorney Steven Toprani is being forced to dismiss criminal cases because of the arrest of three Smith Township police officers.
Toprani said his office has begun sifting through criminal cases filed by suspended officers Mike North, Derek Atif Dayoub and Amber Price. According to Toprani, the officers would be needed to testify to prosecute a handful of cases, most of which were misdemeanors. And, since the officers have been suspended, they would be unable to make an appearance in court.
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He could not provide the number of cases that have been dismissed.
While Toprani downplayed the criminal cases, some were more serious than others.
For example, there's one involving Thomas L. Ervin, 40, of 214 Joe Cain Road, Bulger, who was arrested last year by North following a hit-and-run crash on Pleasant Valley Road, Smith Township.
The crash occurred March 31, 2008, when Ervin allegedly ran head-on into a motorcycle driven by Robert Wasik, an off-duty Washington firefighter. Wasik was thrown from his motorcycle but suffered only minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene.
According to a report filed by North, Ervin was found in his van about a half-mile from the crash scene. A tire on Ervin's vehicle had blown out.
Ervin's blood-alcohol content was more than 11/2 times the 0.08 percent limit, police said.
Charges against Ervin included aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI, leaving the scene of a crash, being a habitual offender, having no registration or insurance and carrying an unlicensed firearm.
It was Ervin's third DUI arrest since 1994.
Both North and Dayoub were involved in the incident.
On Monday, Judge John DiSalle agreed to the prosecutors' request to dismiss the case because of North's arrest.
Wow, you never wrote this stuff when Pettit was in : 4/22/2009
Interesting, DA takes down apparent dirty cops. OR points out problems with taking down dirty cops. OR never investigates Pettit and his crap. Just wondering WHY?
worst kind of criminials : 4/22/2009
what do you north supporters and pro bad cops have to say now that because of his actions a drunk driver will drive to risk killing a member of your family or mine! lets not forget the district justice ellis who would have set these bad officers free,,,,,,,, officers of the law are supposed to support laws not break them,, these are the ones who have been caught, their are many more, like one of washington pa finest who sent a untruthful document to the DA , HOPEFULLY YOUR TIME IS COMMING
CRIMINALS : 4/22/2009
what the world comming to? criminal charges being dropped, because of criminal police officers
smith police : 4/22/2009
all three officers need to resign,it makes it bad for all the good cops
officer north : 4/22/2009
Obviously, I'm not trying to defend what Officer North has done wrong, but I want to acknowledge that he has done some good things, too. When our family dog was lost, Officer North happened to see him at somebodys house. The person who lived there had our dog chained and intended to keep him, but Officer North recognized him and knew we were trying desperately to find him, and he brought him home to us. And when we had to call an ambulance when our grandmother died, he came to our house and was wonderful in helping comfort us and offering his help. So despite what he has done wrong, and yes, these things were wrong, he isn't all bad. The part of him that we saw was a very very good person.
realize/ real lies : 4/23/2009
I'm pretty sure most (not all) of the charges filed by these officers were made up anyway, based on their work history
north the dog catcher : 4/23/2009
it seems bad cop north has a good point, of finding your dog, thats great let him work as a dog catcher, he can even have a badge,, but he is shame to the few honest police officers left
BAD POLICE : 4/23/2009
I HOPE THESE THREE COPS GET WHAT THEY DESERVE BUT THERES ONE MORE COP THAT NEEDS TO GO GEORGE ROBERTS HES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LAWSUIT PENDING AGAINST THE BORO NOW BECAUSE OF POOR JUDGEMENT AND HIS OWN PERSONAL REASONS AND HES NOTHING BUT A YES BOSS BOY FOR DICK ALVAREZ
police : 4/23/2009
These 3 dirty cops are thugs chief roberts is not but hes not capable of standing on his own 2 feet and hes stood silent while a couple of our politicians has illegally bled the boro dry in front of his eyes which im sorry to say also makes him a bad cop that needs to step down before he ends up in trouble like the other 3.
bad cops : 5/16/2009
a few bad cops give all cops a bad rep. Now, and you'll see this in everyone's comments, the whole department will be looked at. Within good reason. But, I highly doubt that two officer's conducting in such a manner means all of them do(I say two because Price was only at Smith 2 weeks or so, I put her as a Burgettstown cop). I've been pulled over and ticketed in Smith on a few occasions and the guys I was pulled over were professional and nice. I even thanked the one guy! When he let me go with my $151.50 speeding ticket...I said thanks!!! Then I thought "wow, did I really just thank someone for charging me $150!!" But that cop was that nice! So for all of you out there claiming the entire deptartment is corrupt, come to you're senses.
