Video evidence supports Officer Paul Abel's version of his encounter with Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter outside The Flats on Carson, according to the director of Pittsburgh's Citizen Police Review Board.

The Citizen Police Review Board will end its investigation of Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter's recent arrest, with the head of the board saying that surveillance video supports the arresting officer's version of what happened outside a South Side bar. At a board meeting Tuesday night, Executive Director Beth Pittinger said the video shows Pittsburgh police Officer Paul Abel being restrained by Porter to the point that Abel couldn't protect himself or his gun. Pittinger described seeing Porter grab Officer Abel's wrists in the video, then pull the officer's arms so they were outstretched. FOP President Bob Swartzwelder said, "A lot of people vilified Officer Paul Abel in the public eye - except for the chief of police - and now that they've seen the evidence, they want to exonerate him." Porter's attorney, Robert Del Greco, said neither he nor Joey Porter filed a complaint with the CPRB and they did not participate in any aspect of the inquiry. He said they are not in a position to respond to it. Pittsburgh police have not released any of the videos, saying they are still evidence. Porter was charged with felony aggravated assault against Abel, resisting arrest, and simple assault against a doorman who wouldn't let him enter The Flats on Carson. Before Porter could have a preliminary hearing, District Attorney Stephen Zappala's office agreed to dismiss those charges. In the criminal complaint, Abel wrote that Porter grabbed his wrists "so tightly that I could not pull them away from him, no matter how hard I tried." The incident happened on the night of Jan. 9, a few hours after the Steelers defeated the Miami Dolphins in a playoff game. Porter remains charged with public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, which are minor summary offenses.

The Citizen Police Review Board will end its investigation of Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter's recent arrest, with the head of the board saying that surveillance video supports the arresting officer's version of what happened outside a South Side bar.

At a board meeting Tuesday night, Executive Director Beth Pittinger said the video shows Pittsburgh police Officer Paul Abel being restrained by Porter to the point that Abel couldn't protect himself or his gun.


Pittinger described seeing Porter grab Officer Abel's wrists in the video, then pull the officer's arms so they were outstretched.

FOP President Bob Swartzwelder said, "A lot of people vilified Officer Paul Abel in the public eye - except for the chief of police - and now that they've seen the evidence, they want to exonerate him."

Porter's attorney, Robert Del Greco, said neither he nor Joey Porter filed a complaint with the CPRB and they did not participate in any aspect of the inquiry. He said they are not in a position to respond to it.



Pittsburgh police have not released any of the videos, saying they are still evidence.

Porter was charged with felony aggravated assault against Abel, resisting arrest, and simple assault against a doorman who wouldn't let him enter The Flats on Carson. Before Porter could have a preliminary hearing, District Attorney Stephen Zappala's office agreed to dismiss those charges.



In the criminal complaint, Abel wrote that Porter grabbed his wrists "so tightly that I could not pull them away from him, no matter how hard I tried."

The incident happened on the night of Jan. 9, a few hours after the Steelers defeated the Miami Dolphins in a playoff game.

Porter remains charged with public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, which are minor summary offenses.

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BREAKING: @cprbpgh will NOT investigate conduct of @PghPolice Officer Abel in @steelers #JoeyPorter arrest after exec dir views arrest video — Kelly Brennan (@kellybrennan412) January 24, 2017

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Pittinger says the surveillance video is in line with Officer Abel's description in the affidavit of probable cause for Porter's arrest — Kelly Brennan (@kellybrennan412) January 24, 2017

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She, Beth Pittinger, saw surveillance video of @steelers Joey Porter arrest. Says Porter retrained Officer Abel, holding arms outstretched — Kelly Brennan (@kellybrennan412) January 24, 2017

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