Wilkinsburg
has agreed to pay $135,000 to settle a resident's claims that she was
improperly arrested, falsely imprisoned and denied due process, according to
documents released last week.
Kate
Luxemburg, chair of the Wilkinsburg Redevelopment Authority, in 2012 sued the
borough, police Chief Ophelia Coleman and two officers. She contended that a
July 2011 arrest for theft, criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, burglary
and criminal mischief -- all charges that were eventually dropped -- was driven
by her support of a district judge candidate and pursuit of a redevelopment
grant.
Ms.
Luxemburg, 68, claimed that the authority she leads was considering taking
possession of an abandoned house for redevelopment purposes, when a man asked
her if he could remove items for salvage. Though Ms. Luxemburg did not give him
permission, according to her complaint, he removed items anyway, and police
arrested her, claiming publicly that she led a burglary ring.
Ms.
Luxemburg said Saturday that her authority was on the verge of securing a grant
from Allegheny County when the arrest negated the effort. She said Wilkinsburg
officials favored a different development group.
In
the settlement agreement, Wilkinsburg denied any wrongdoing.
