Redstone Township couple files suit against supervisors and police
A lawsuit was filed in federal court, alleging a Redstone Township supervisor and the township’s police department protected a resident who allegedly harassed nearby neighbors.
The complaint was filed by attorney Joel Sansone on behalf of Kevin and Susan Hlatky and their minor child. The township, Supervisor Larry Williams, acting police Chief Troy Rice, Officer Jacob C. Nunley and township resident William Lowery were named as defendants.
The lawsuit alleges issues started to arise between the Hlatkys and Lowery around May, when Lowery allegedly started grading his property without a permit from the township. That project, according to the suit, would cause rainwater to go directly to the Hlatky property, increasing the risk of flooding.
When a neighbor questioned Lowery about the project, he said he could do whatever he wanted with his property and shortly after, Lowery started placing boundary-marking stakes on property adjacent to his without the benefit of a professional survey, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint stated that township employees refused to provide the Hlatkys with information and assistance other than Williams would be handling the incident because it involved Lowery.
Williams, according to the complaint, told the couple he would not discuss the matter until they conducted a survey on their property. When they told Williams they had a current survey, he allegedly told them they needed to get another and should have “all their ducks in a row” before they said anything.
However, the complaint states, after the Hlatkys continued to contact the township, nothing was done to remedy the situation.
Sansone alleges township officials and police protected Lowery. The suit contends Lowery improperly claimed a portion of an alleyway adjacent to his property, blocked public roads for private parties, set off fireworks and was disruptive to the community.
The lawsuit claims neighbors complained about him, but no action was taken.
The complaint also references an incident in July where Kevin Hlatky was towing a car along his street and was blocking Lowery from traveling on the street; Lowery was asked to wait for two minutes, but Lowery began yelling at Kevin Hlatky.
When Kevin Hlatky approached Lowery’s car, Lowery backed the car away while yelling profanities at Kevin Hlatky, Sansone alleges.
When the Hlatkys returned to their street, Lowery, who had been driving in the opposite direction, allegedly placed his vehicle on the wrong side of the road to block them from pulling into their home. The suit alleges Kevin Hlatky told Lowery that he was going to run into Lowery’s vehicle, and Lowery allegedly brandished a handgun and said he would shoot Kevin Hlatky if he exited the vehicle.
Susan Hlatky called the police, Sansone wrote, and Rice and Nunley responded and took statements. The policemen refused to arrest Lowery after Kevin Hlatky said he wanted to press charges, the suit contended.
In the complaint, Sansone claimed the Hlatkys overheard Rice tell Lowery that he would get Lowery out of trouble.
The Hlatkys are seeking compensatory general and special damages as well as legal fees at an amount proven at trial for violations of their constitutional rights for equal protection, economic damages, physical pain and suffering, fright, horror and shock and emotional trauma and suffering.
A phone message left for Williams seeking comment was not returned as of press time.