2 Constables Charged With Assaulting Woman Found Guilty

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Allegheny County Judge Beth Lazzara found both constables charged with overstepping their authority guilty on charges including official oppression, conspiracy and simple assault.

Christian Constantini and Michael Lowman were accused of literally dragging Esther Peyton of Munhall from her home by her legs because of an unpaid $50 parking ticket last October.

She and her family testified they offered to pay the money which the constables were required to accept according to the prosecution.

The judge pointed to wounds and bruises admitted as evidence when she was handcuffed and dragged, and said that had the constables acted in the spirit of "peace officers" which they are supposed to be, and followed the handbook that guides their actions, none of it would have happened.

The judge also said the story of the victim was credible and the constables stories were not. The defense disagrees.

"If you look at the statements from the commonwealth witnesses there were glaring inconsistencies," said defense attorney Frank Walker. "But I'll just say I disagree and we look forward to the appeal."

"If you look at the statements from the commonwealth witnesses there were glaring inconsistencies," said defense attorney Frank Walker. "But I'll just say I disagree and we look forward to the appeal."

"They encountered someone who didn't seem to want to provide identification at the door," said defense attorney Al Burke, "and it escalated from there and I found that to be the start of a downhill slide of incredibility with regard to commonwealth witnesses."

Should this case affect public perception of constables in general?

"I think as with any large group, the actions of these two individuals shouldn't reflect the actions and the important work that the constables do on behalf of the courts each and every day," said District Attorney spokesman Mike Manko.

"She made it very clear, there are ways to do this job and there are ways not to do this job and when you do not follow the guidelines and the handbook, which was put together pretty much by Magistrate Opiela in West View, when you don't follow those guidelines then there's going to be consequences to pay," said Manko.

Both constables were effectively suspended when they were charged but now that they're convicted, the DA's office will move to formally remove them as constables.

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