A western Pennsylvania man dropped his wrongful arrest lawsuit after he was charged for yelling about Donald Trump while listening to the radio in his car.
Thomas Sebastian, of Erie, was arrested in September 2022 after witnesses heard him shouting profanities about the former president while stopped at an intersection in Millcreek Township, and he was arrested a short time later at his home, reported the Pennsylvania Record.
“The radio commentator continued with a reference to former President Trump's family," the lawsuit stated. "In response, the plaintiff reacted by shouting, ‘F*ck Donald Trump and his kids, too.’ This entire episode occurred while the plaintiff was sitting at a steady red light in the left through lane."
A witness told police that Sebastian had been yelling about Trump at other vehicles and nearly hit a curb, and officers used his license plate number to track him down and went to his home to question him.
“Approximately 10 minutes later, [Sebastian] realized he had left his phone in his car and went to his car to retrieve it," the suit stated. "Plaintiff’s car was parked in his reserved space located on the property of the apartment complex. While retrieving the phone and in his car, plaintiff was suddenly and unexpectedly accosted by the defendant officers. The plaintiff was grabbed from his car, thrown to the ground, had his arms pushed behind his back, and had his face pushed in the dirt. He was then cuffed."
Officers took Sebastian to the police department and held him for several hours before charging him with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
A judge found Sebastian not guilty on both counts in October 2022, and he sued the township three months later, claiming the arrest violated his civil rights.
The township fought to have the suit for a year before Sebastian agreed to dismiss the complaint with prejudice, which means he cannot file the same complaint again, and the case was closed.
It's not clear why Sebastian agreed to dismiss the claim or whether he reached a settlement with the township.
