City officer charged in South Side street shooting

The gun of an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer discharged as he allegedly pistol-whipped an innocent passer-by early Saturday morning following a scuffle with two other men, city police said.

Paul Abel, 34, an eight-year police veteran stationed in the city's Zone 3 police station, is charged with aggravated assault and two counts of driving under the influence.

Abel is accused of assaulting Kaleb Michael Miller, 20, of Sidney Street. Miller was shot in the right hand and was treated at UPMC Mercy hospital, Uptown. Family members said Miller was back at home yesterday afternoon, but would require more surgery. They declined further comment.

Abel is suspended without pay and faces departmental charges on Monday, Pittsburgh police Chief Nate Harper said during a news conference yesterday to announce the charges.

Abel was released on his own recognizance. Attempts to reach him for comment yesterday were unsuccessful. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 8.

The assault occurred at the intersection of Sidney and South 20th streets in the South Side at 2:11 a.m., according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by police to support the criminal charges.

A witness, William Detweiler, whose address was not given, told investigators he was at the corner of South 20th and Carson streets when he saw two men at the window of Abel's silver Jetta. They appeared to be arguing, according to the affidavit. Abel was trying to open his door when a black male pushed it shut. After the officer rolled down his window, a white man started to punch Abel in the face, police said.

"We do not know why they reached into the car," Harper said.

The two men fled. Abel got out of his car, opened the hatch and pulled out his service revolver, Harper said.

He tried to follow the two men, but returned to his car. As Abel drove away, Detweiler heard him use an obscenity and say he would "get" someone, the affidavit stated.

At the corner of South 20th and Sidney Streets, Detweiler saw Abel get out of his car and wave his gun in the face of Miller, who was not involved in the earlier altercation, the affidavit states. Miller stood with his hands in the air as Abel told him to get to the ground, hitting Miller in the head several times with the butt of his gun, the affidavit states.

Abel's wife, Cassandra, meanwhile, had gone to the Town Tavern on East Carson Street, where two off-duty officers were working a uniformed detail, and told them Abel needed their help, the affidavit states. As officers Brian Rowland and Darren Fedorski approached, they saw Abel strike Miller with his forearm, and the weapon discharged, injuring Miller, the affidavit stated.

"He was an innocent victim, as far as we know," Harper said.

After the shooting, Abel was taken to police headquarters, where, to those questioning him, he appeared to be intoxicated, police said. His blood-alcohol reading was 0.111 percent, police said. The legal limit is 0.08 percent.

Cassandra Abel refused to comment yesterday afternoon.

Harper said that Abel has a good record with the department and served two tours of duty in Iraq.

Last year, Abel and his brother-in-law were involved in a fight inside the Allegheny County Courthouse. The men were waiting to testify in a trial involving an assault on Abel's wife. The brother-in-law, Muhamid Thorton, known as Desmond Thornton, of Carrick was convicted of disorderly conduct.