Three staff members and the director of the Blackburn Center are facing charges after they refused entry to officers to pick up a child believed to be in danger. According to Pennsylvania State Police, employees at the Westmoreland County Center obtained a custody and search warrant for a 3-year-old girl and refused to hand her over, physically trying to keep police away. Officials said they had to force their way in to retrieve the little girl, who, according to a judge's order, was not allowed to be with her mother, who lived with her at the center. Police say four center employees played a role in trying to keep them away, including the center's director, Renee Reitz. “She cares deeply about these people and she just wants to protect the victims who have no one to speak for, that's all,” Reitz's father told Pittsburgh Action News 4. The Blackburn Center released a statement after the incident , which said: “The staff at Blackburn Center have the privilege of advocating for victims of domestic violence on a daily basis. The Blackburn Center supports our employees and is confident that the legal process will show that the situation was handled appropriately. Whatever their reason for acting, their actions constituted a crime and could have endangered a young child. Renee Reitz as well as Eleonora Marsili, Adrean Orsini and Maria Robinson are each charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct. According to police, the three-year-old is now in the care of her father.
GREENSBURG, Pa. –
Three staff members and the director of the Blackburn Center are facing charges after refusing officers entry to pick up a child believed to be in danger.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, employees at the Westmoreland County Center obtained a custody and search warrant for a 3-year-old girl and refused to hand her over, physically trying to keep police away.
Officials said they had to force their way in to retrieve the little girl, who, according to a judge's order, was not allowed to be with her mother, who lived with her at the center.
Police say four center employees played a role in trying to keep them away, including the center's director, Renee Reitz.
“She cares deeply about these people and she just wants to protect the victims who have no one to speak for, that's all,” Reitz's father told Pittsburgh Action News 4.
The Blackburn Center issued a statement after the incident saying: “Blackburn Center staff have the privilege of advocating for victims of domestic violence on a daily basis. This will demonstrate that the situation was dealt with appropriately.”
Police say her actions, regardless of the reason, were a crime and could have endangered a young child.
Renee Reitz as well as Eleonora Marsili, Adrean Orsini and Maria Robinson are each charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct.
According to police, the three-year-old is now in the care of her father.
Comments are closed.