Advertisement Wilkinsburg official says politics behind arrest Kate Luxemburg settles lawsuit against borough Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The head of Wilkinsburg’s redevelopment authority tells WTAE her arrest was all about politics.Kate Luxemburg, 68, sued Wilkinsburg and its police chief alleging they falsely arrested her three years ago. She recently settled the suit.VIDEO: Watch Paul Van Osdol's reportLuxemburg said she was thrown in jail because of trumped-up charges pursued by political opponents.Wilkinsburg has about 800 abandoned properties. Luxemburg is passionate about cleaning them up.“It should either be demolished or rehabbed. It should not sit for years and years and years. That's really destructive,” she said.She says that passion brought her in conflict with Wilkinsburg's borough council, which wanted to keep control of the properties. Things came to a head three years ago when the redevelopment authority headed by Luxemburg got a big grant.Within days of the grant announcement Wilkinsburg police charged her with running a burglary ring, stealing items from a house on Rebecca Avenue and others.“I opened the door and there were three police officers who said, ‘We're here to arrest you,’ and I was shocked, for what?” she said.Police held a news conference and her grandchildren saw her picture on television.“One granddaughter said to me, ‘They're making you look like a bad person granna.’ I think about that all the time,” Luxemburg said.The charges were eventually dropped and Luxemburg filed a lawsuit against the borough and police officials including Chief Ophelia Coleman. She alleged false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and civil rights violations.Asked why she was arrested, Luxemburg said: “For political reasons, to me there's no doubt about it, but I can't prove it.”Her suspicions grew after a deposition with the arresting officer, Sgt. Charles Knox. He testified under oath that Chief Coleman ordered him to arrest Luxemburg. Knox testified that he “did not want to be part of this whole thing” and he “did not think it was right.”In her deposition, Coleman testified that she did not tell Knox to make the arrest and she did not even know Luxemburg's position with the borough.Luxemburg hopes her case sends a message in Wilkinsburg and beyond.“The police force should not be used for political purposes,” she said.Luxemburg settled the lawsuit for $135,000.Coleman and other borough officials declined to comment.Luxemburg plans to go back to work trying to clean up abandoned properties in Wilkinsburg.