The Mountain Top attorney charged criminally last year for fatally shooting an injured raccoon has filed federal lawsuits alleging the arresting officer harassed him after he beat the charges and that Luzerne County officials wrongfully stripped him of his license to carry a firearm.

Larry Kansky, 62, of Wright Twp., drew controversy in May when he used his .38 Special to shoot the raccoon he found injured along the side of the road on West North Street. Prior to shooting the animal, Kansky repeatedly called 911 over an eight-hour span but received no response from city police or the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Police Officer Richard Harding charged Kansky with reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct, alleging he put passers-by in danger by firing his revolver in the city. But Magisterial District Judge Michael G. Dotzel dismissed the case in September, finding police failed to demonstrate Kansky’s actions placed the public in danger.

A complaint filed Thursday by Pittston attorney Cynthia L. Pollick alleges that on the morning of Dec. 31, Harding pulled up behind Kansky and began yelling and screaming that he’d been looking for him.

Harding, who was in full uniform, told Kansky he was a “liar, no hero, and got lucky,” the complaint alleges.

“(Kansky) attempted to get away from defendant police officer Richard Harding to no avail since he was frightened of him and had no firearm in his possession, but defendant police officer Richard Harding continued to come after (Kansky),” the complaint said.

The suit, which targets Harding, the City of Wilkes-Barre and Police Chief Joseph Coffay, alleges the city “failed to train its officials on how to properly assess a probable cause, not to retaliate against a citizen who engaged in free speech, and not intimidate a citizen after successfully defending a criminal action.”

A second complaint filed against Luzerne County alleges the Luzerne County Sheriff’s Office violated Kansky’s due process rights when Sheriff Brian Szumski revoked his license to carry a firearm.

The lawsuit alleges that on the day The Citizens’ Voice first reported on the case, Szumski revoked Kansky’s license without any opportunity for Kansky to challenge the decision, threatening to pursue criminal charges if Kansky did not surrender his license within five days.

The suit notes that in addition to being cleared of criminal wrongdoing, Kansky received Tracey’s Hope Hospice and Animal Rescue’s Animal Rights Award for going “above and beyond” the call of duty by euthanizing the raccoon.

“(The county was) aware of (Kansky’s) protected activities and retaliated against him, causing him mental anxiety, stress and sleeplessness, and a continued campaign of harassment for having exercised his constitutional right to bear arms and exercise free speech,” the lawsuit alleges.

The complaints are seeking unspecified damages to be determined at trial.

Coffay and County Manager Dave Pedri declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

By James Halpin, The Citizens’ Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (TNS)