Advertisement Jury reaches mixed verdict in Jordan Miles civil rights case Homewood man claimed David Sisak, Michael Saldutte, Richard Ewing wrongly arrested and beat him Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Jurors returned a mixed verdict Monday in the federal civil rights lawsuit by former high school honors student Jordan Miles against three police officers in federal court in Pittsburgh.VIDEO: Watch Bob Mayo's ReportThe jury found officers Michael Saldutte, David Sisak and Richard Ewing were not liable for using excessive force against Miles when they arrested him on a Homewood street in January 2010.But the jury also ruled that the three officers violated Miles' right not to be subjected to false arrest. The six jurors unanimously awarded Miles more than $119,000 in damages; over $101,000 in compensatory damages; and punitive damages of $6,000 for each officer. Jurors indicated that the officers "maliciously and wantonly violated Jordan Miles' rights.""It's a victory on my behalf. The jury found the police officers to be guilty, at least in one aspect, and that's all I really needed," said the 22-year-old Miles."Today's verdict reflects the jury's understanding that Jordan Miles was not at fault in any way in this incident," said Miles' attorney, Joel Sansone."I'm very satisfied that these jurors were able to come to that conclusion and see that these police officers were wrong," said Miles.The officers left the federal courthouse without commenting. Their attorneys spoke with reporters and said their clients were disappointed by the verdict."There's no logic behind it whatsoever. It makes no sense. It's an inconsistent verdict," said Ewing's attorney, Bob Leight."We thought, monetarily, this was really a verdict in favor of the defense, when they were offered $180,000 four years ago," said Sisak's attorney, James Wymard."Jordan Miles did not care at all about what amount was awarded," Sansone said. "The only thing that he wanted to hear was that they did the wrong thing."Injuries suffered by Miles during his arrest brought him no compensation from the jury.Sansone said he believes the officers should be fired and charged with crimes. He is calling on the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Justice Department's civil rights division and the City of Pittsburgh to reopen their investigations of the officers' actions."There would be no basis for that," said Saldutte's attorney, Bryan Campbell. "There wasn't anything developed during this trial that hadn't been developed before."Evidence which Sansone maintains showed the officers had been disciplined previously for making false statements in police reports was ruled inadmissible by U.S. District Judge David Cercone, the attorney said."It's not over. It's not over until God says it's over," said Miles. He also said he will try personally to move on from the high-profile case."I could possibly put this behind me. It's still very difficult, but I could try my best because now I know that we tried our hardest," Miles said."We're gratified today that, in America, the poor can still stand up against the people that would oppress them," said Sansone. "These police officers broke the rules, arrested my client and violated his rights under the Fourth Amendment. We're gratified to know that the jury was able to see through many of the things that these police officers told them that were not true."The split decision puzzled attorneys on both sides."I cannot explain the jury's failure to find excessive force," Sansone said. "It remains a mystery and, until I can speak with them, if I can, it will remain a mystery."Miles, an 18-year-old CAPA high school senior at the time, said he thought the three plainclothes officers were muggers when he says they demanded drugs, guns, and money during the incident on Jan. 12, 2010.SLIDESHOW: Photos from the Jordan Miles caseDefense attorneys for officers Sisak, Saldutte and Ewing argued that the three did what any objective, reasonable police officers would have done, knowing what they knew that night. The officers previously testified that Miles resisted arrest and that they thought he had a gun, though none was found. They've suggested they may have mistaken a bottle of Mountain Dew in his coat pocket for a weapon. The officers say they discarded the bottle; Miles said he never had a weapon or the bottle.Miles is black and the three officers are white. During the trial, defense attorneys addressing the all white jury made references to race.Wymard scoffed in court at Miles' claim that he didn't know at first the three men subduing him were police."Three white guys in Homewood, trying to put handcuffs on somebody -- who else would it be?" asked Wymard.Mayor Bill Peduto issued a written statement about the verdict: "Events one night in Homewood four years ago have echoed through our city, our neighborhoods and our police force ever since. It has changed at least four lives forever, but it hurt us all in some way. Our community must start healing, and must start rebuilding the trust we must have for safe communities and a better police force. I am ready to start that now."