A former Bradford, PA police officer who was arrested for retail theft and then fired, has filed a federal civil rights suit against the City of Bradford, its mayor and police chief.
Shayne Miller, 45, had been charged with two counts of retail theft and was later acquitted of all charges. He had been accused of failing to pay for meat at Walmart as he went through a self-checkout aisle. However, before he was found not guilty, he was fired. Now, he wants his job back (under conditions) and at least $300,000.
John Mizner of Erie is the attorney representing Miller. He released a press statement to the media Friday:
“The complaint avers
that Mr. Miller’s constitutionally protected due process rights were violated
when he was terminated without meaningful notice of the reason for his firing,
nor any opportunity to review of the evidence against him. The complaint also
avers that Police Chief Lucco and Mayor Riel intentionally defamed Mr. Miller,
in an attempt to justify their decision to terminate him without just cause.”
Miller has other grievances with the city and police department, which will likely surface. Meanwhile, the mayor told the Bradford Era "...it sounds like a bunch of laughable nonsense."
