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Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Officer Michael Rosfeld

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A civil lawsuit has been filed against Michael Rosfeld, the East Pittsburgh police officer who shot and killed 17-year-old Antwon Rose.

In the coming months, Officer Rosfeld will be in court defending himself against criminal homicide charges in Rose's death.

However, the lawsuit filed today has nothing to do with the shooting. Rather, it's a case from Rosfeld's past.

michael rosfeld mughshot
(Photo Courtesy: Allegheny County Jail)

The suit stems back to an incident last December at the Garage Door Saloon in Oakland, where Rosfeld was still employed as an officer with the University of Pittsburgh Police.

Rosfeld arrested Timothy Riley and Jacob Schilling for allegedly starting a bar fight and attacking the owner.

However, their attorney, Rob Peirce, said video surveillance showed otherwise.

"The videotape showed exactly what my client said, which is they did nothing wrong whatsoever, that they should not be charged with anything and they now have a criminal record based upon this event," Peirce said.

RAW VIDEO: Attorneys Hold Press Conference To Announce Civil Lawsuit:

Both young men spent the night in the jail, but at the preliminary hearing, the District Attorney's Office withdrew the charges based on insufficient evidence. In the midst on an internal investigation by Pitt Police, Rosfeld resigned in early January.

In the lawsuit, Riley and Schilling are seeking monetary damages in excess of $35,000 against Rosfeld, the bar owner, Mark Welshonse and the University of Pittsburgh.

"This event should not have taken place. Because of it, Officer Rosfeld was let go from the police department. And my clients have had to suffer due to his actions on that night when they did nothing wrong," Peirce said.

Rosfeld's attorney has not had time to review the complaint.

Meanwhile, Rosfeld's preliminary hearing in the Rose case has been pushed back to July 27.

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