The District Attorney’s Office has withdrawn charges against two employees and the director of the Blackburn Center for allegedly refusing officers entry to remove a child believed to be in danger. Renee Reitz, along with Eleonora Marsili, Adrean Orsini and Maria Robinson, were each charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct.According to the DA, charges were dropped against Reitz, Orsini and Robinson. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has reached out to the DA on Marsili’s charge.The Pennsylvania State Police say employees at the Westmoreland County center were given a custody order and search warrant for a 3-year-old girl and refused to hand her over, physically attempting to keep police out. Officials say they had to force their way in to get the little girl, who a judge had ordered could not be with her mother, who was staying in the center with her. Police say four employees of the center played a role in trying to keep them out, including the center’s director, Renee Reitz. “She’s very passionate about those people and she just wants to protect the victims that have nobody to speak for, that’s all it is,” Reitz’s father told Pittsburgh Action News 4. The Blackburn Center released a statement after the incident, saying, “The staff of Blackburn Center has the privilege of advocating for domestic violence victims on a daily basis. This is difficult and stressful work. Blackburn Center supports our staff and believes that the legal process will show that the situation was handled appropriately.”Police say that no matter their reason, their actions were a crime and could have put a young child at risk. The District Attorney’s Office said although they are dropping charges, they support the actions of Pennsylvania State Police for executing the search warrant.”The paramount concern of the state troopers was the safety and well-being of the child, which is always a paramount concern of this office,” The DA’s office said in a statement.Police say the 3-year-old is now in the custody of her father.
The District Attorney’s Office has withdrawn charges against two employees and the director of the Blackburn Center for allegedly refusing officers entry to remove a child believed to be in danger.
Renee Reitz, along with Eleonora Marsili, Adrean Orsini and Maria Robinson, were each charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct.
According to the DA, charges were dropped against Reitz, Orsini and Robinson. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has reached out to the DA on Marsili’s charge.
The Pennsylvania State Police say employees at the Westmoreland County center were given a custody order and search warrant for a 3-year-old girl and refused to hand her over, physically attempting to keep police out.
Officials say they had to force their way in to get the little girl, who a judge had ordered could not be with her mother, who was staying in the center with her.
Police say four employees of the center played a role in trying to keep them out, including the center’s director, Renee Reitz.
“She’s very passionate about those people and she just wants to protect the victims that have nobody to speak for, that’s all it is,” Reitz’s father told Pittsburgh Action News 4.
The Blackburn Center released a statement after the incident, saying, “The staff of Blackburn Center has the privilege of advocating for domestic violence victims on a daily basis. This is difficult and stressful work. Blackburn Center supports our staff and believes that the legal process will show that the situation was handled appropriately.”
Police say that no matter their reason, their actions were a crime and could have put a young child at risk.
The District Attorney’s Office said although they are dropping charges, they support the actions of Pennsylvania State Police for executing the search warrant.
“The paramount concern of the state troopers was the safety and well-being of the child, which is always a paramount concern of this office,” The DA’s office said in a statement.
Police say the 3-year-old is now in the custody of her father.
Source
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