Federal judge rejects Gilpin man's claims of harassment by police, prosecutors

A federal judge dismissed a Gilpin man’s claims that local police engaged in a pattern of harassment and humiliation toward him.

In March, Dennis Kreashko put forth a series of accusations against Gilpin and the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department, the regionalized successor to the Gilpin Township Police Department. He also named the Armstrong County District Attorney’s Office in the lawsuit.

Kreashko said at the time that he hoped to “teach them a lesson” after five years of alleged issues.

Among his claims against Gilpin police: meritless traffic stops, unlawful searches, planted evidence, a coerced confession implicating him in a 2022 corruption of minors case and ignoring his report of a burglary at his home.

Kreashko also alleged the district attorney’s office unlawfully kept him detained after his arrest on charges of corruption of minors, which came after a teenage girl staying with him tested positive for multiple drugs. The charges against Kreashko in that case were dismissed.

U.S. District Judge Scott Hardy this week dismissed the allegations against the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department and the Armstrong County District Attorney’s Office with prejudice, which bars Kreashko from pursuing further legal action against the agencies.

In a written opinion, Hardy said Southern Armstrong could not be sued as an entity separate from Gilpin.

Chief Chris Fabec said he was aware of the ruling.

“We are proud of our officers and the work that they do and have done, and will continue to provide the best service to the communities and the people that we serve,” he said.

As for the issue with the district attorney’s office, Hardy rejected Kreashko’s argument that a North Carolina court order seeking his release from custody here held any sway in Pennsylvania.

“Obviously, a North Carolina court could not order a Pennsylvania district attorney to release a Pennsylvania detention order,” Hardy wrote.

District Attorney Katie Charlton declined to comment.

Kreashko could still pursue an amended claim against Gilpin.

For any future lawsuit to succeed, Judge Hardy said, Kreashko would have to show the township established some kind of unconstitutional policy or practice related to his claims. The actions of individual officers — who are not named in the lawsuit — would not be enough, he continued.

Furthermore, Kreashko would not be able to raise issues that occurred prior to March 2022, due to the a two-year statute of limitations from the time of his initial complaint.

Kreashko was not aware of the dismissal when contacted by TribLive, and said he wanted to consult his attorney before providing comment. He did not respond to a subsequent request for comment.

Gilpin Solicitor Timothy Miller did not immediately return a request for comment.

Kreashko has previously taken local police to court and won.

In March 2013, Kreashko and his wife sued then-Leechburg police Chief Mike Diebold and state police Cpl. Dan Herr for harassment and stalking charges. Leechburg paid $4,000 and state police paid $1,000 to settle the case in August 2013.