District judge sides with former Kiski Township sergeant accused of roughing up resident

An Armstrong County magistrate sided with a former Kiski Township police sergeant who was sued by a resident he arrested while responding to a medical emergency at the resident’s township home in 2021.

District Judge Kevin Lee McCausland on Jan. 25 issued his ruling on the Jan. 23 hearing for a civil complaint that Kiski Township resident William Culp, 68, filed against former township police Sgt. Thomas Dessell alleging physical injuries, legal expenses and defamation of character. He had asked for an award of $12,000.

The complaint stems from a Sept. 9, 2021, incident during which Culp was arrested and charged with obstructing emergency services, resisting arrest and simple assault.

He believed Dessell had no reason to arrest him and that doing so was illegal.

Armstrong County 911 advised police that the caller was “hysterical and yelling about drugs,” according to the criminal complaint.

Culp previously told the Tribune-Review that he was not aware that a 911 call had been placed.

Culp could not be reached for comment for this article.

According to the civil complaint, Culp accused Dessell of entering his house without notice and failing to say why he was there. He said Dessell pushed him up against a wall and attacked him.

But Thomas E. Breth, who was one of the lawyers representing Dessell, said Dessell’s actions were a proper response and were supported by video from the officer’s body camera.

“Sgt. Dessell was there because he was on duty and responding to a 911 call made by a relative of Mr. Culp’s indicating that another relative was in medical distress,” said Breth of the Butler County law firm Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham, which was hired to represent Dessell on behalf of the township’s insurance carrier.

Dessell also has a private attorney, Max Roesch of the Lindsay Law Firm in Butler.

Breth said the video shows that Dessell entered the residence with another relative and was immediately confronted by Culp, “who was hostile, agitated and acted in an aggressive manner toward the officer.”

When Dessell entered the house, Culp, who is the grandfather of the woman who was in need of medical help, told Dessell to “get the hell out of the house,” according to Culp’s arrest papers.

Culp attempted to push Dessell toward the doorway and knocked him off his feet, according to the criminal complaint.

Both men scuffled, with Dessell trying to handcuff Culp to make room for the paramedics to enter the home, the criminal complaint said.

After Dessell handcuffed Culp, Culp continued to resist arrest, according to the criminal complaint.

Breth said Dessell followed his training and handcuffed Culp so he could protect himself and continue assisting medical personnel, but Culp “continued to act in a belligerent manner.”

“I think a lot of civilians don’t realize how what typically would be a routine call can be difficult, stressful and turn into a dangerous situation,” Breth said.

Culp initially faced a felony charge of aggravated assault alleging that he attacked an officer, but the District Attorney’s Office and Dessell agreed to withdraw the charge so Culp could enter an ARD program, according to court records.

At Culp’s preliminary hearing Feb. 9 before District Judge James Andring, the charges were waived to court.

Culp agreed to enter an ARD program for one year. If he completes the program, the charges will be expunged from his record.

Township, Dessell in separate legal action

Unrelated to the Culp civil lawsuit, Dessell resigned from the department in July, along with three other Kiski Township officers and a dispatcher. All claimed they were harassed and intimidated by township supervisors.

Dessell followed up his resignation with a civil lawsuit, accusing township supervisors of threats and intimidation over what he believes were illegal and corrupt acts.

That lawsuit will be heard in Armstrong County’s Court of Common Pleas and is in its early stages.

The township denied allegations in Dessell’s lawsuit in a court filing last month in response to the lawsuit. The township added allegations that a township supervisor received complaints about Dessell conducting improper vehicle stops and searches. The township also alleges in its response that Dessell “threatened to make the supervisors’ and other officers’ lives a living hell.”

Staff writer Mary Ann Thomas contributed to this report.