Fired Avalon Police Officer Facing Charges

AVALON (KDKA) -- A former officer with Avalon Police is facing charges for his alleged actions while working for the department.

The Avalon police chief said he could not comment on the investigation, but confirmed he contacted Allegheny County Police to investigate the former, fired officer for the alleged assault of an inmate.

Officer Walter Johnson spent four years with the Avalon Police Department, but police Chief Tom Kokoski said Johnson was terminated by council in June for numerous alleged violations of their policy and procedures manual.

After the officer was fired though, another officer reportedly approached the chief telling him about an alleged assault of an inmate back in April.

According to court papers, on April 20, Avalon police responded to the 300-block of Cleveland Street for an assault. At that location, court papers report that a Robert Szilagyi allegedly resisted arrest, struggling with police.

Court papers filed by Allegheny County Police say that surveillance video of a holding cell shows Officer Johnson throwing Szilagyi into the cell with such force that he hurled head first, feet off the ground. The impact was not seen, but minutes later, a pool of blood could be seen around the inmate.

He was treated for multiple fractures, lacerations to the face and broken teeth.

Some of the injuries could have occurred from an earlier street fight, but Allegheny County Police are investigating the officer for injuries that he may have caused to the inmate.

According to court papers, Johnson is facing one count of aggravated assault and one count of official oppression.

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