Police: Southwest Greensburg councilman used racial slur during dog bite investigation

A Southwest Greensburg borough councilman directed a racial slur at another man last month during an investigation about a dog fight, according to a police report.

Then this week, Councilman David Thomas questioned Police Chief Chris Kent about why information about him apparently using the slur was included in a police report about the incident.

“Thomas said that the remarks were made because he was angry, in the heat of the moment,” Kent wrote in the report.

Thomas could not be reached at his house or by phone on Friday. No court action had been filed against him.

Police said they were called to Oakland Street at 1:41 p.m. April 6 after a pit bull owned by Levi Kinney of Greensburg attacked Thomas’ dog. Kinney said Friday he got the dog two days before the incident and has since found a new home for it. Police reported Thomas’ dog may have had a few “light puncture marks,” but Kinney said he hadn’t received any information about the animal being checked by a veterinarian.

Police said the situation turned heated when officers heard Thomas direct racial slurs toward Kinney several times, according to the report.

Kinney said Friday that Thomas was “belligerent and disrespectful.”

“I heard him say a racial slur even when he was across the street talking to the cops,” Kinney said. “That was rude.”

An addition was made to the original police report Wednesday morning when, Kent said, Thomas and council President Jeff Tabita came to the station. They questioned him about why Thomas’ use of the slur was mentioned in the police report. The council members inquired about where police reports are stored and if that one would always be on file.

“Tabita and Thomas both stated numerous times that they were not asking me to change (the) report, but they were concerned with where the report would go,” Kent wrote in a supplemental narrative.

Kent declined comment Friday. Tabita could not be reached.

Kinney said he recently learned about Wednesday’s discussion and that Thomas is a member of borough council.

“You shouldn’t treat anybody like that,” he said.

Kinney was cited for not having a license for the pit bull and not having it on a leash.