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Security Guard Charged Over Black Friday Incident

ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - A security guard is being charged with roughing up a guy outside of the Ross Park Mall, which led to police using a Taser on the victim.

Now, that security guard is blaming the incident on being "tired, cold and sore."

On Nov. 26, a Ross Park Mall security guard, who was directing traffic, confronted a man after he pulled into the Toys R Us parking lot.

The guard, identified as 25-year-old Gregory Lattera roughed up the man, John Kaminski, who was with his wife and infant son.

According to the criminal complaint, Lattera grabbed Kaminski and slammed him into a parked car.

Then, Lattera slammed Kaminski to the ground and pinned him down with his knee.

A Ross Township police officer, responding to a call from the guard of a hit-and-run, Tased Kaminski, apparently believing he was the aggressor.

Fortunately for the Kaminskis, it was Black Friday and the parking lot was full. As a result, there were lots of witnesses around and they all independently told a different story than the one Lattera was telling.

Police confronted Lattera with the discrepancies, at which time he recanted his story and explained to KDKA's Jon Greiner that he was cold, tired and sore from directing traffic for more than six hours.

Lattera was crying and admitted that he lost his temper and stormed up to the Jeep as it was passing him.

The Ross Park Mall referred questions to Wvalor Security, which hasn't returned phone calls.

Ross Park Police issued a statement and weren't available for questions about their Taser use policy.

Lattera, a former Eagle Scout with 32 merit badges, faces charges of simple assault, false imprisonment, false reports to law enforcement, impersonating a public servant, unlawful restraint and harassment.

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