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Judge Tosses Lawsuit Over Man's Death In Police Standoff

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed over the death of a man who killed himself during a standoff with police in eastern Pennsylvania almost three years ago.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Allentown alleged that Nazareth police and other officials violated the civil rights of 32-year-old Timothy Nixon. Officials said Nixon had barricaded himself with a stolen gun in May 2013 and killed himself when an officer knocked on the door.

The (Allentown) Morning Call reports that U.S. District Judge Joseph Leeson ruled that the officer's decision to knock on door was reasonable under the circumstances.

Plaintiff's attorney Joseph Welsh said he will talk with is client to decide whether to appeal the decision to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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