Obstruction charges filed against Blackburn Center staff in child custody case

Four employees of the Blackburn Center in Greensburg are facing charges after, state police said, they denied entry to troopers attempting to serve an emergency child custody order.

Police reported prying a door open Oct. 1 in an effort to locate the child after repeated attempts to get inside a shelter the organization runs for people who have experienced domestic and sexual violence.

“The defendants’ actions … did obstruct, impair and impede the administration of law as prescribed by the courts and carried out by PSP,” police wrote in complaints against the four suspects. “Through this obstruction, they created a physically hazardous condition which served no purpose other than to thwart the administration of law.”

Blackburn Center provides a variety of services, including a 24-hour hotline, temporary emergency shelter, counseling, therapy, support groups and help with legal issues.

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence called for the charges to be dismissed, saying the employees were following agency policy and state law.

“All charges filed against Blackburn Center advocates in relation to this incident are baseless and unwarranted,” the coalition said in a statement. “Confidentiality and privilege are essential pillars of domestic violence services.”

Multiple messages were left for the Blackburn Center Wednesday by TribLive.

“The staff of Blackburn Center has the privilege of advocating for domestic violence victims on a daily basis,” a representative of the center said in a statement released by the coalition. “This is difficult and stressful work. Blackburn Center supports our staff and believes that the legal process will show that the situation was handled appropriately.”

State police said they had been investigating numerous reports of abuse involving the child since early August and, on Oct. 1, a judge issued an emergency order that called for custody to be transferred immediately to the child’s biological father, according to court papers.

Troopers learned the child was staying with a relative at the Blackburn Center. They contacted employees there about 4 p.m. in an effort to serve the order, according to court papers.

“(Employees) said they would not confirm or deny that she would be staying there,” Trooper Steve Limani said.

Door pried open

After being issued a search warrant, troopers said they tried again about 8 p.m. but were again met with resistance from employees.

“This goes on for almost seven minutes where they refused to let us in,” Limani said.

Troopers called Westmoreland 911 for help in contacting employees inside, but they ignored requests to come to the door, he said.

“We start prying the door open, and they are holding it shut,” he said.

Troopers called Greensburg police and firefighters for help getting in the building, according to court papers. The child was found inside, and custody was transferred to the Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau.

The state coalition criticized the response of state police, calling the troopers’ lack of knowledge appalling and describing the incident as hostile and unprecedented. The shelter’s leadership expressed a willingness to work with state troopers but had not yet gotten there, according to the statement.

The center’s director, Renee N. Reitz, got to the shelter shortly after troopers served the order, according to court papers. Police said she attempted unsuccessfully to contact an attorney while telling staff members not to let police inside.

The coalition cited Pennsylvania’s Protection From Abuse Act, which it said shields domestic violence advocates from disclosing information about their clients to the court or law enforcement. Only the client can waive confidentiality, according to the coalition.

“Confidentiality is especially important to provide safety and support to victims whose abusers may have positions of power within the community, such as within the law enforcement, local government or child welfare systems,” the coalition said in the statement. “These systems can be weaponized and used as further tactics of abuse against victims.”

Troopers filed misdemeanor charges of obstruction and disorderly conduct against Reitz, 33, of Jeannette; and center staff members Eleonora M. Marsili, 65, of Hempfield; Adrean M. Orsini, 45, of Latrobe; and Mariia S. Robinson, 26, of West Wheatfield. None of the women had attorneys listed in court records.

No court action has been set.