PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Coroner Cyril Wecht Investigated for Improper Payments
by Quinten Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005 at 7:49 AM
quinten@indymedia.org

Allegheny County DA Zappala is pursuing a criminal investigation against County Coroner Cyril Wecht.

Allegheny County DA Stephen Zappala has initiated a criminal investigation of county Coroner Cyril Wecht. Zappala alleges that Wecht may have violated State and Federal laws by improperly accepting a payment.

Wecht was paid $5,000 for a technical report that was part of a federal lawsuit against the Mt. Oliver Police Department in the matter of the death of Charles Dixon. Wecht had recommended that criminal charges be pursued against the Police Department but Zappala has not followed through.

Dixon's case became the center of storm of accusations against the DA's office and the Mount Oliver police. Dixon was asphyxiated by Mt Oliver and Pittsburgh Police in late December of 2002 at a friend's birthday party held at the firehall in Mt Oliver. Witnesses testified that they heard Dixon say "Get off me, I can't breathe!" as 10 police officers had piled on top of him. Zappala has been heavily criticized for not pursuing charges in the case. Although the Mt Oliver Police department paid Dixon's family $850,000 to settle a federal suit, all of the officers involved remain free.

Zappala and Wecht have long been at odds. In multiple recent police-brutality or abuse related cases, Wecht has recommended that charges be pursued while Zappala has stalled them.

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