Man pleads guilty to throwing brick through Pittsburgh police car window during 2020 protests

A man charged for throwing a brick through a Pittsburgh police cruiser during protests last year pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court.

George Allen, 32, of Pittsburgh, pleaded to one count of obstructing law enforcement during civil disorder.

Allen was charged in July 2020, accused of throwing a hunk of concrete through the window of a police vehicle from about 25 feet away. The brick smashed through the cruiser’s passenger window. An officer in the driver’s seat was sprayed with shattered glass, according to the charges, and a sergeant in the passenger seat was struck with the concrete.

The sergeant hit by the brick was struck in the arm and developed minor bruising.

Sentencing is set for Nov 10. Allen faces up to five years in prison and a potential fine of $250,000.

Allen was among hundreds who converged on May 30, 2020, in Downtown Pittsburgh, protesting the murder of George Floyd by a former Minneapolis police officer.

After initially entering a plea of not guilty when he was indicted, Allen moved to change his plea to guilty. As part of the plea agreement, the court held Allen liable for just under $600 that he must repay to Pittsburgh police.

Allen also has a case related to the May 30 protests that remains active in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Those charges stem from the same alleged actions and include aggravated assault, riot, propulsion of a missile into an occupied vehicle, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

Court records do not list a date for the next proceeding in that case.