Kiski Township man sues former police sergeant for injuries, legal expenses, defamation

A Kiski Township man filed a civil complaint and is suing former Kiski Township police Sgt. Thomas Dessell for $12,000, alleging physical injuries, legal expenses and defamed character.

Dessell resigned from the department in July, along with three other Kiski Township officers and a dispatcher who claimed they were harassed and intimidated by township supervisors.

The civil complaint, filed Oct. 4, stems from a Sept. 9, 2021, incident during which William Culp, 68, of Kiski Township was arrested and charged with obstructing emergency services, resisting arrest and simple assault.

Culp initially faced a felony charge of aggravated assault alleging 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.

Culp filed the civil complaint with misdemeanor charges against Dessell because of the Sept. 9 incident.

In the complaint, Culp said Dessell entered his house without notice and didn’t say why he was there.

“He backed me against a wall and attacked me,” Culp said in the civil complaint.

According to the Kiski Township Police Department’s criminal complaint against Culp, on Sept. 9 the township received an emergency call about a woman possibly overdosing or having a seizure.

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

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 the criminal complaint.

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

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.

He was taken to the township police station, and the paramedics took Culp’s granddaughter to an area hospital, the criminal complaint said.

Culp said he filed the civil complaint because he believes Dessell illegally arrested him and had no reason to arrest him.

“I’m 68. I’m not going to beat up the cop,” Culp said when contacted by the Tribune-Review.

“He didn’t knock; he just stomped in. I didn’t know there was a 911 call placed. I just went in to check on my granddaughter, and within five seconds he was grabbing me and twisted up my shoulder.”

Max Roesch, an attorney with the Lindsay Law Firm in Butler, who is representing Dessell in a separate civil suit against the township, said Dessell is not liable.

“Police are given qualified immunity, which gives them a little bit of leeway when performing their duties,” he said.