Pocono News Section

I-Team Update: Caught on Tape - Cops Gone Wild

I-Team Update: Caught on Tape - Cops Gone Wild - Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:05PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Monday, Jan 11, 2010 @ 06:05pm EST
LUZERNE, LUZERNE COUNTY -- Three Luzerne County police officers are at risk of losing their jobs. They were caught on camera doing what some call ÒquestionableÓ actions. Because of that video, the case against a Luzerne County man was tossed out.

The I-Team first showed you the video last week. And now there's new information in the investigation.

Those officers could face penalties, maybe even dismissal after the incident in the Borough of Luzerne. Right now, the leaders of three communities are conducting internal investigations.

The images stunned many. They were recorded by a bank security camera in Luzerne last November. One off duty police officer is seen zipping down his pants. Another "moonsÓ a Swoyersville police cruiser, as it pulls up to the scene. One of the off duty cops slid over the hood of the cruiser while another plays with the spotlight.

A man, Ryan Laffey, who is standing nearby and watching it unfold, tried to file a complaint with the officer in the cruiser, Austin King. Laffey tried to find out his name and badge number to report him to his superiors.

It's then Laffey says that King and two of his friends, off-duty Plymouth officer Ryan Mahovich and Matthew Bonawits, who is an officer in Plymouth and Edwardsville, try to intimidate him. Laffey says he was handcuffed and put in the back of the cruiser, charged with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

The case was thrown out in court when the officers said they could not recall the outrageous behavior when questioned by Laffey's defense lawyer, who pointed out he had a videotape showing what happened.

Monday the I-Team saw Officer Bonawits walking into a meeting with EdwardsvilleÕs mayor and police chief. He had nothing to say.

The police chiefs in Plymouth and Swoyersville told Eyewitness News that Mahovich and King are "off the road" pending the outcome of their respective internal investigations.

Some people we talked with say the officers actions can not be tolerated. Richard Hawk of Edwardsville said, "I think it's very awful and rude of cops that are supposed to protect us. They go out and do something like that, it's just not right. They should lose their jobs."

Melissa Simon of Edwardsville said, "They should be fired. They should face penalties for it. Like I said, youÕve got someone outside, they moon a passing car, they get fined, they get arrested. They should face what anyone else would face."

The status of Officer Bonawits remains unknown. The officers could face perjury charges for their testimony in that court case. The D. A. says if there is a criminal case, she would ask the state police to investigate.

As for the bystander, Ryan Laffey, he says he will file a lawsuit against the officers for unlawful arrest.