Pennsylvania Man's False Arrest Lawsuit Against Williamsport Officer Moves Forward

A federal court in Pennsylvania allowed a man wrongly arrested for armed home invasion to pursue false arrest and malicious prosecution claims against a Williamsport police officer.

Federal Court Clears Path for Wrongful Arrest Claims Against Williamsport Officer

A federal court in Scranton, Pennsylvania, has allowed a man to proceed with civil claims of false arrest, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution against a Williamsport police officer, Courthouse News Service reports.

The man was originally arrested in connection with an armed home invasion. Subsequent fingerprint and DNA testing, however, excluded him as a source of evidence from the crime scene — raising serious doubts about the basis for his arrest.

At issue is the officer's warrant affidavit. A jury could find that it lacked probable cause, the court determined, given that disputed evidence calls into question how a photograph — identified by the man's employer — was linked to the crime.

The ruling means the case will advance toward trial, where a jury will weigh whether the affidavit supporting the arrest warrant met the legal threshold required to detain the plaintiff.

Source: Courthouse News Service