A New Jersey man said a decision by Allegheny County Police to detain him two years ago at Pittsburgh International Airport when he began asking questions after his flight was canceled violated his constitutional rights and “is an example of the systemic injustice routinely faced by Black men,” according to a lawsuit filed last week in federal court.
Herve Bisciongol Beyak was waiting at the Findlay airport after his July 4, 2023, afternoon flight to Newark Liberty International Airport had been delayed multiple times, then canceled, the lawsuit said. The flight was scheduled to leave at 3:15 p.m. that day.
United Airlines staff contacted county police after Beyak asked to see the airline’s “contract of carriage,” the lawsuit said. Beyak claimed his attempt to explore options for rescheduling the flight “was met with unwarranted threats.”
Police officers who arrived at the airport gate handcuffed and arrested Beyak, then took him to a jail, on a disorderly conduct charge, Beyak said.
In the non-traffic citation against Beyak, police claimed Beyak “engaged in threatening and tumultuous behavior with the intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance and/or alarm,” according to the lawsuit.
“This case involves a manifest miscarriage of justice,” Pittsburgh attorney James T. Tallman, who represents Beyak, wrote in the 32-page lawsuit. “The defendants unjustly caused (Beyak) to be detained, searched, arrested and jailed merely because he was a dissatisfied customer.”
“It is an example of the systemic injustice routinely faced by Black men in Pittsburgh and the United States of America,” Tallman added.
Officials from the county police, the Pittsburgh International Airport and United declined to comment Tuesday, citing the ongoing nature of the litigation.
The lawsuit does not specify the race of Beyak or the four officers Beyak sued. The lawsuit also names as defendants the county police force and United Airlines.
A district judge judge later dismissed the disorderly conduct charge against Beyak stemming from the airport incident, according to the lawsuit. The court case and any related charges were not available online Tuesday.
Beyak’s seven-count lawsuit alleges authorities conducted an unconstitutional seizure, falsely imprisoned him and prosecuted him maliciously.
Beyak, who lives in Weehawken, N.J., across the Hudson River from Manhattan, is seeking a jury trial and compensatory damages. The lawsuit does not cite a dollar figure or range.
