Judge revokes bond of man charged in South Side brawl that left cop with broken bones

Pittsburgh Police Sgt. Andrew Robinson could not explain how his right ankle and leg were broken during a scuffle with Jonathan Morin earlier this month.

Asked under oath Thursday whether Morin kicked, stomped or punched him as he fought with a group of people outside a South Side bar, Robinson couldn’t say.

The 13-year police veteran could only be sure that as the two grappled, Robinson ended up on the sidewalk of East Carson Street with his foot turned at a severe, unnatural angle and several broken bones.

Despite Robinson’s inability to pinpoint exactly how he got injured or what Morin might have done — if anything — to break his bones, a judge revoked Morin’s bail and put him back in jail.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski ruled that no combination of conditions could ensure that Morin would show up in court and protect the public.

“His conduct that night demonstrated a complete and unabated disregard for lawful authority,” Borkowski said.

Morin, 23, of Carrick will now stay locked up to await a preliminary hearing on aggravated assault and resisting arrest charges from the Sept. 7 incident.

The court system’s pre-trial services division, which assesses whether people who are newly arrested should be granted bail and what kind, had recommended releasing Morin with no money down after he was arrested following the incident.

But District Judge Patrick Campbell set Morin’s bail at $10,000.

Morin put up 10% in cash to secure his appearance and walked out of jail on Sept. 8.

His release prompted prosecutors to seek a court hearing in an effort to take him off the street based on what the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office called the “savage nature” of the case.

During a hearing Thursday, Robinson described the fight outside Oddballs bar, which has since closed.

Robinson, who heads the city police South Side Entertainment patrol, testified that a group of six to eight people were being escorted out of the bar around 1 a.m. on Sept. 7 when he went there to assist.

As the patrons were being removed by bouncers, the customers began pushing and shoving.

Morin was among those who left the bar, and as he did, he fell over a railing. Robinson said he thought Morin was drunk.

Then, Robinson said, Morin grabbed the back of a police officer who was attempting to detain his friend on the sidewalk.

“Morin tried to grab him from behind,” Robinson said. “I grabbed Mr. Morin to get him off of the officer.”

Morin then turned on Robinson, the officer testified, and attempted to punch him in the face multiple times.

Robinson had already radioed for backup.

Then the two ended up on the ground, continuing to scuffle.

“I’m on the ground, he’s on top of me still trying to assault me,” Robinson said. “The reason why I fell is because of my broken ankle.”

He did not explain how the ankle injury occurred.

On cross-examination, Robinson told Morin’s lawyer, Phil DiLucente, that Morin did not kick, stomp or punch his ankle.

Still, Robinson testified that his ankle was broken in three places, and his tibia and fibula were also broken.

Robinson had previously told TribLive his leg and foot were broken.

He has four pins and rods holding his leg bones together.

Robinson expects he will be out of work for six to 12 months.

“The doctor said my ankle will probably never be 100% again,” he said.

DiLucente asked the judge to follow the recommendations of pre-trial services that Morin be granted bail.

Morin was drunk that night and showed bad judgment, DiLucente said. But, he continued, “His intent was not to injure this officer.”

Morin reacted when he saw an officer attempting to arrest his close friend, DiLucente said.

Morin has no criminal record and works full time, according to DiLucente said. He suggested that Morin be put on an ankle bracelet at home.

But Chief Trial Deputy District Attorney William Petulla argued that Morin threw two roundhouse punches at Robinson, knowing he was an officer in full uniform.

“We cannot normalize kicking and punching police officers,” Petulla said. “This knows no bounds. If he’s able to do this, he’ll do it again.”

The judge was critical of the original bail recommendation and the bond set by Campbell. He called them “inappropriate.”

Robinson praised the decision after the hearing.

“Obviously,” Robinson said of Morin, “he’s a danger to society.”