Couple Sues Rent-A-Center, Police Over Gun Report Arrest

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A western Pennsylvania man and his fiancee have sued Rent-A-Center and a police department for allegedly arresting the man after the company's employees allegedly made the false claim that the man had a gun when they came to repossess some furniture.

Tyrie Sheppard and Sade Fallin lived in Wilkinsburg when the workers demanded they return a bed and refrigerator after missing a payment. The couple says they owed less than $200 and already had a court date scheduled to resolve the matter when Rent-A-Center workers arrived.

During the confrontation, the workers called police claiming Sheppard had a gun, and he was arrested and jailed for five days. The charges were dismissed when Rent-A-Center workers didn't show up to testify at three court hearings.

Officials with Plano, Texas-based Rent-A-Center and the Wilkinsburg police didn't immediately comment.

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