UPMC Officer Faces Federal Suit

November 12, 2023 4:08 am

(WPXI)-An eight page federal lawsuit has been filed against a UPMC Police officer. The suit alleges that the officer punched a patient several times in the face and then lied about it in December of 2022. Initially, charges were brought against the patient David Drews. They were dismissed and UPMC Police Officer Chris Cicchitto was eventually charged. The incident was captured on video. It shows Drews suffering a seizure due to a bi-polar disorder and was being transported to Western Psychiatric Hospital. Drews called the officer names prompting him to sucker punch Drews. Cicchitto is now being sued for excessive force, malicious prosecution, false arrest and other claims. UPMC is not named in the lawsuit and would not verify if Cicchitto is still employed there.