Lawyer for Erie protester wants court to force police to release the name of city cop who kicked her

A lawyer for the incapacitated protester who was maced and kicked on video by an Erie police officer is suing Erie officials for the officer’s name, according to local news sources. 

Just a week after a 3-day unpaid suspension was issued for the Erie police officer responsible for kicking  21-year-old Hannah Silbaugh, Attorney Timothy McNair, who is representing Silbaugh filed a writ of summons against the officers involved, Erie Police Chief Dan Spizarny, Mayor Joe Schember and the city of Erie, according to GoErie.com.

Erie police open internal investigation after video of officer kicking a young woman goes viral

Silbaugh’s attorney has also requested the names of the officers involved as well as Erie police policies. 

So far, city officials have refused to release the name of the officer.

McNair told GoErie.com reporter Madeline O’Neill in an email that once they have the name of the officer, he and Silbaugh plan to file a formal complaint claiming “excessive force.”

Citing a potential conflict of interest with Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri, McNair, last week, asked state Attorney General Josh Shapiro to take up the case. 

“The situation presents an appearance of conflict of interest whether it exists or not. Therefore, we are respectfully demanding that further investigation of this matter be turned over to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Attorney General,” McNair told GoErie.com.