We recently reported about a white man in Pittsburgh who wasn’t arrested after he was caught on video brutally attacking a black child. Now, it’s been reported that the firefighter has been placed on paid “administrative leave”.
After social media caught wind of the disturbing video, 46-year-old Thomas D’Andrea was placed on administrative leave from the Pittsburgh Public Safety. The video shows the firefighter physically assaulting a 13-year-old black boy who he accused of vandalizing a playground.
RELATED: White Man Not Arrested After Brutally Attacking A 13-Year-Old Black Child In A Playground
The child, who suffers from severe asthma, denied that he was vandalizing the property. The child’s sister was heard in the video begging the man to stop attacking her brother.
Pittsburgh Public Safety released a statement on their social media announcing a pending investigation.
“Thomas D’Andrea is charged with simple assault and criminal mischief. Police are continuing to investigate. D’Andrea is a City of Pittsburgh firefighter. He has been placed on administrative leave. The office of municipal investigations is investigating.”
Pittsburgh Public Safety's statement on the playground altercation that took place on the 300 block of Saline Street on Tuesday, June 25.
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) July 2, 2019
@PghPolice and @CityPGH are investigating. pic.twitter.com/Ow0aG2jJ8N
Thomas D’Andrea was never arrested for the assault, but is facing misdemeanor counts of simple assault and criminal mischief, WPXI reports. He was also asked to step down from the Greenfield Community Association, News One reports.
The child’s mother Shalaya Hasbrouck, posted the video on Facebook with the following caption,
“My children we’re sitting in the playground in Greenfield where we live, minding their own business when this person ran over to them telling them to leave calling them racial slurs. He lied to the police and said they were vandalizing the playground. He then ran up and began to attack my son. He hit my son FIRST. Punching him and calling him racial slurs.”
“He also threatened to hit my daughter who was recording and stole my son’s phone which he then slammed into the ground. His father and i did not get there until after the police arrived. Which was nearly 30 minutes later. This p.o.s. need to be in jail. I cannot believe the Pittsburgh police refused to arrest him. Why was this sicko in the park anyway he is a grown adult? He NEEDS TO BE ARRESTED!!!!”
Greenfield, Pa -Pittsburgh
— TheAverageBlackMan™ (@TheAvgBlackMan) June 30, 2019
Thomas Dandrea brutalizing a child..on a playground. Look at how bold these racist bigots are in Trump’s America. It’s disgusting and dangerous for people of color.
pic.twitter.com/bKlQNs1e2O
