Pittsburgh police detective charged with aggravated assault in bar brawl

A Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detective was charged with felony aggravated assault after investigators said he hit a man on the head with a beer bottle during a bar brawl last month. 

Detective Richard Dilimone Jr., 36, is on paid administrative leave "pending the outcome of the legal process," a spokesperson for Pittsburgh Public Safety said in a statement on Wednesday. 

According to the criminal complaint, Pleasant Hills police were called to the Pleasant Bar on Old Clairton Road around 1 a.m. on Feb. 8 for a bar fight. 

Investigators said the fight began when Edward Estes, who has also been charged with simple assault, tried to break up an argument involving a friend and several men later identified as off-duty Pittsburgh police officers.

Attorney Casey White represents Estes and said his client stepped in to diffuse the situation and tried to break up an argument involving a friend.

"My client was being verbally threatened, verbally accosted," White said on Wednesday. "He felt that his livelihood was in danger." 

White acknowledged his client threw the first punch, but he said the situation escalated moments later when Dilimone hit Estes over the head with a beer bottle, leaving a 6-inch cut that required nine stitches and plastic surgery.

"There are two facts that can't be contradicted: My client was acting in self-defense, and my client was hit over the head with a beer bottle by an off-duty city of Pittsburgh police officer," White said.  

The assault was captured on the Pleasant Bar's security cameras, investigators said. White said he has not yet seen the surveillance video, but said his client went straight to the police to give his version of what happened.

"We were candid, honest and open, and he explained why he did what he did, why he was acting in self-defense," White said. "It's all on video, so there's nothing you can hide."

After the fight, Pittsburgh Public Safety said four officers were placed on administrative leave, but they returned to duty after they were investigated internally. 

Dilimone has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 25, according to court paperwork.