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Downtown Business Owners Upset With Police Response To Vandalism Incident

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Eddie and Jenna Sharma own several businesses in Downtown Pittsburgh, including a store on Wood Street that sells beer, cigarettes and snacks.

On Wednesday night, a man came into the store wanting to purchase beer, but the Sharmas refused to sell it to him because he appeared to be drunk.

The man walked outside and tossed a large wooden A-frame sign through the storefront window, shattering it. The vandalism is clearly seen on the store's surveillance video.

Police were called.

But Eddie claims one of the officers who responded to the scene was rude and acted unprofessionally. Eddie said the officer cursed at him and said he knew more about the law than he [Sharma] did.

Jenna said her mother was on the phone and wanted to speak to the same officer about what happened. However, she says, "The policeman just pressed the end button on the cellphone and hung up in her."

"I respect the Pittsburgh Police, but [Wednesday night], I don't think they protected and served us the right way," Jenna said.

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The Sharmas say they'll likely file complaints about the officer because of his rudeness.

The commander at the Pittsburgh Police Zone 2 Station said no complaints had been filed against any officers as of Thursday night, but she has requested that the Office of Municipal Investigations look into the allegations.

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