Man sues casino, state police over 2007 interrogation, arrest
Published: June 11, 2009
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share thisA Dunmore man is suing Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and the Pennsylvania State Police, claiming security and gaming enforcement officers at the casino illegally detained and charged him after he found an envelope containing four small gaming vouchers.
Richard Piazza, 43, said he suffered "embarrassment," "humiliation" and "emotional distress" after being "held against his will" in a small, windowless interview room for 90 minutes in September 2007.
His attorney, Harry T. Coleman, said the officers had no justification to interrogate and charge Mr. Piazza. A magisterial district judge later dismissed the charges - receiving stolen property and theft of property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake.
"They charged this person criminally for an innocent act; he picked up discarded property," Mr. Coleman said. "It's the same way if I picked up a $100 bill, or a $20 bill or a $1 bill on the courthouse square and ... police were there waiting to arrest me."
Mr. Piazza filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Scranton. He is seeking damages in excess of $75,000, plus attorneys fees.
Robert Soper, president and chief executive officer of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, said the casino was wrongly named in the lawsuit.
"It's very simple, from our perspective this is a matter between the state police and the plaintiff," he said.
Cpl. Lynette Quinn, a state police spokeswoman, declined to comment.
Mr. Piazza claimed he found the envelope containing four small gaming vouchers in a vacant aisle on the Plains Twp. casino floor. There was no identification on or inside the envelope or on the gaming vouchers identifying their owner.
Contact the writer: msisak@citizensvoice.com
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