DA reviewing hoax FOP release in Pittsburgh case

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Allegheny County District Attorney is trying to determine whether charges will be filed in connection with a fake news release sent on modified police union letterhead concerning three Pittsburgh officers accused of wrongfully beating an 18-year-old black man last year.

City detectives last month seized a computer from a video store, but tell the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the store’s owner and employees have been cooperative and are not accused of sending the Jan. 11 release on faked Fraternal Order of Police letterhead.

The release said the union was withdrawing its support of three officers accused of wrongly beating Jordan Miles in January 2010. The Justice Department is investigating Miles’ claims that the white officers targeted him simply because he was a young black man walking in a high-crime area.

The union stands behind the officers, who deny wrongdoing.