A supervisor at Shuman Juvenile Detention Center has been fired following an altercation with a 16-year-old resident, according to court documents.
Howard Rayzer, 52, of Highland Park was charged Tuesday by Allegheny County police with simple assault, official oppression and harassment.
The victim told investigators that on the morning of Jan. 4 he was collecting his belongings to be transferred into another cell at the Lincoln-Lemington center. According to a criminal complaint, he was moving slowly because he was angry about being moved and wanted to annoy Mr. Rayzer.
The victim said Mr. Rayzer struck him with an elbow and dragged him into a common area. Mr. Rayzer then grabbed the victim by the hair and the two of them began to wrestle before other staff members began to restrain the victim, according to the complaint.
The complaint also said the victim alleged that Mr. Rayzer thrust his thumb into the victim’s mouth and scratched the roof of his mouth; grabbed the victim by his groin; and pushed the victim face-down on the floor and placed his hand on the back of the victim’s neck, pressing the victim’s head into the floor.
Mr. Rayzer told investigators that he grabbed the 16-year-old after the resident had struck him twice with his elbow, and the resident bit his thumb in the midst of the altercation.
But video surveillance of the incident reviewed by police showed Mr. Rayzer grabbing the 16-year-old by his hair and “no physical provocation on the part of the victim,” the complaint said. Mr. Rayzer could be seen in the video attempting to go after the handcuffed victim several times and had to be physically restrained at least twice by staff members he supervises, according to the complaint.
Court records did not list an attorney for Mr. Rayzer. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 5.
Andrew Goldstein: agoldstein@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1352.
First Published: February 16, 2017, 1:56 a.m.
Updated: February 16, 2017, 2:35 a.m.
