$10 Million Lawsuit Filed Against Northern Regional Police Department

A 33-year-old Richland man who was shot in the stomach and shocked with a Taser by Northern Regional Police Department officers has filed a $10 million suit against the department and others.

Nathan Beran, his wife Melanie and his sister Jennifer filed suit Monday in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh against the police department, four of its officers, the Northern Regional Joint Police Board and Richland Township.

The officers named in the suit are Paul Hughes, Regis Welsh, Matthew Durzo and Charles Seibert.

The Northern Regional Police Department serves Pine, Marshall, Bradford Woods and Richland. The joint board named in the suit is a multi-municipality advisory board.

Northern Regional Police Chief Robert Amann was not available to comment on the suit. Richland Township Solicitor Charles Means said he had no comment.

The lawsuit stems from a Feb.11, 2009, incident in which police were called to the Richland Township home of Beran's mother, Vivian Beran, at 3923 Gibsonia Road (Route 910).

Police charged Beran with four counts of aggravated assault, one count of disarming a law enforcement officer, six counts of reckless endangerment and one count of criminal mischief/damaging property after encountering him there.

In October, he went to trial and was found not guilty of the five felony counts of aggravated assault and disarming a law enforcement officer. He was found guilty of misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief/property damage.

Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning in January sentenced him to four years of probation and to undergo treatment. He also was ordered to pay court costs of $2,562.

The Berans' lawsuit states that Vivian Beran called 911 after Nathan became upset and broke several windows. She told the operator that her son had shot out a window, was agitated, had been drinking, was "banging stuff in her house," and that her daughter was trying to talk to Nathan, according to court documents.

Vivian Beran spoke to the 911 operator a second time, saying her son did not shoot out any windows and that he had broken the rifle he had with him, according to the lawsuit.  She said the rifle was in her back yard, the lawsuit states.

Once the police arrived at the Beran home, Nathan's mother and sister assured them that Nathan had calmed down and their services were no longer needed, according to the lawsuit. His mother told the officers her son needed psychiatric help, the suit states.

The police did not leave, however, and searched the house for Nathan with his sister Jennifer leading the way into each room, according to the suit.

After getting Nathan to leave the basement bathroom, police shocked him with a Taser and shot him, according to the suit. He was transported by ambulance to Allegheny General Hospitaland later taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

In the case of Nathan, the defendants are accused of battery, assault, tolerating excessive force, negligence and intentially inflicting emotional distress. The suit also alleges Nathan's constitutional rights were violated.

Nathan's sister Jennifer also was arrested after the confrontation, the suit states. On her behalf, the suit alleges false arrest and imprisonment, intentionally inflicting emotional distress, battery, assault, negligence, using excessive force and violating her constitutional rights.

Nathan's wife, Melanie, alleges the loss of consortium in the suit.