Duquesne police chief accused of witness intimidation against father of alleged sex assault victim

Duquesne police Chief Thomas Dunlevy was arrested Wednesday, accused of interfering in an alleged sexual assault case against his friend, including intimidating the accuser’s father.

The man accused in the alleged August sexual assault case, Nathan Beck, 20, was a volunteer firefighter in Duquesne and a friend of Dunlevy’s, according to Allegheny County Police. The alleged victim is a 15-year-old girl.

Duquesne officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Two days before the preliminary hearing, the alleged victim’s father reported that Dunlevy, whom he did not know, showed up at his Hazelwood auto body shop with a manila folder, according to the complaint. He reported that Dunlevy said he had “potential evidence that Beck could use in trial.”

Dunlevy, according to the complaint, alleged the man provided alcohol to his daughter and Beck, both of whom are underage, and alluded to child protective services becoming involved if the case went to trial.

The alleged victim’s father told police that Dunlevy said he was there on behalf of Beck, who was “suffering from anxiety and depression as a result of the criminal case,” according to the complaint. He said Dunlevy claimed he and his daughter’s mother had “enabled Beck’s relationship” with the girl and told him there wasn’t a sexual assault evidence collection kit involved in the case.

The man told police he knew that wasn’t true.

The man told Bethel Park police he felt pressured to drop the case against Beck, according to the complaint. He then provided screenshots from a security camera in the auto shop showing the incident.

Police said they reviewed the footage, which showed Dunlevy and another man arrive at the shop and approach the alleged victim’s father. The video allegedly shows Dunlevy making reference to the contents of the folder several times, according to the complaint.

In an interview with Allegheny County Police after the alleged intimidation incident, Beck told Inspector Michael Peairs that he had consulted Dunlevy for advice after the sexual assault charges were filed. Beck said he had confided in Dunlevy about the details of the case and acknowledged he said he “wished the criminal case would go away,” according to the complaint.

Dunlevy told Peairs he assisted Beck with some paperwork and was present for his preliminary arraignment, according to the complaint. He said he didn’t remember an exact date that Beck told him about the charges or when Beck told him about the girl and her family.

Dunlevy acknowledged asking Beck to send him screenshots of text messages when Beck mentioned them during a discussion about his defense strategy, according to the complaint.

Dunlevy said he thought it would be important to share that information with the alleged victim’s family, according to the complaint. An acquaintance, a Munhall police officer, knew the family and agreed to introduce Dunlevy to the girl’s father.

Peairs wrote that Dunlevy acknowledged going to the alleged victim’s father’s auto shop with the screenshots of text messages and mentioning possible Children, Youth and Families involvement, according to the complaint. He said he told the father the defense might “try to paint you to be bad parents” which would be a “CYF matter.”

Dunlevy is charged with witness or victim intimidation, obstruction or retaliation in a child abuse case, obstructing the administration of law and official oppression.

Peairs wrote in a news release that charges were filed Wednesday after consultation with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. He said Dunlevy turned himself in and was awaiting arraignment Wednesday evening.