Attorney claims he was
(USA) Inc.; 1.44 acres; Lehman
mistreated by W-B cops
By Bob Kalinowski and Patrick Sweet
Staff Writers
WILKES-BARRE —
Despite having no alcohol or
drugs in his system, attorney
Robert Gonos was placed
under arrest for suspicion of
driving under the influence
the morning of June 10 when
his car broke down at a
South Main Street intersec-
tion.
Police alleged he slurred
his words, couldn’t stand and
acted belligerently.
Without administering
any field sobriety tests, city
police slapped handcuffs on
the 60-year-old veteran attor-
ney as passersby beeped and
shot catcalls. He was trans-
ported to the hospital for
blood testing and then led to
police headquarters for fin-
gerprints and a mugshot.
Officers told him charges
were pending the results of
the blood tests.
Ten days later, the test
results arrived. No alcohol or
drugs were found in his sys-
tem. Police couldn’t bring
any charges and closed the
case. But for Gonos, the dam-
age was already done. Police
issued a press release about
Gonos’ arrest that was pub-
lished in a local newspaper.
He said his reputation has
been tarnished by the unlaw-
ful arrest and is contemplat-
ing legal action.
“My business is based on
reputation,” Gonos, the son
of a long-time city police
detective, said Wednesday at
his South Franklin Street
office. “This was an incredi-
ble violation of my rights.”
Gonos said he displayed
no signs of intoxication
when confronted by police
around 8:40 a.m.
Wilkes-Barre police tell a
different story and stand by
the arrest.
The police incident report,
filed by arresting Officer
Kevin Steve and released
Wednesday, says a caller
reported that a male who had
been driving erratically
appeared to be passed out
behind the wheel of a white
Saab at a green light at South
Main and Parrish streets.
The report says Gonos had
difficulty standing, had
slurred speech, and shouted
WB_VOICE - CVDAILY - 9 - 06/24/10
Kathleen Marie Rogan.
Attorney Robert Gonos described his arrest as
‘an incredible violation of my rights.’
obscenities at officers. Police
said that when asked for
identification, Gonos initial-
ly gave them a credit card.
When asked if he was under
the influence of any medica-
tions, Gonos told them “don’t
(expletive) worry about what
I take … ” the report says.
Those series of events
raised enough suspicions to
arrest Gonos and take him
for blood testing, Wilkes-
Barre police Deputy Chief
Donald Crane said Wednes-
day.
“As to why he was acting
like that, we may never
know,” Crane said.
Gonos strongly refuted the
contents of the incident
report and called it “defama-
tory.”
“It didn’t happen that way.
Every statement that they
attributed to me was abso-
lutely false,” Gonos said.
“They used words that I
wouldn’t use.”
Gonos said his vehicle was
malfunctioning from an elec-
trical problem as he tried to
drive it to a repair shop on
Wood Street. He said the city
fire department was the first
to respond and planned to
help him push his vehicle
out of the intersection. When
COURT NOTES
Township. Douglas Edward Van Horn and
Jason W. Harabin, Jennifer Ginger Stockbridge.
NATURAL GAS LEASES Grieves and Jennifer Harabin to Brian A. Derby and Jayne
Brian Ciravolo to Encana Oil Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.; Quick.
& Gas (USA) Inc.; 5.04 acres; 2.89 acres; Jackson Township. Antonio Martinez Azanza and
Lake Township. John M. Pavlick, Judith J. Pav- Elizabeth Vega Hernandez.
Brian Ciravolo and Suzanne lick and Peter Pavlick to Encana Paul Simon Schroettner and
Beck to Encana Oil & Gas Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.; 7.53 Maureen Nicole Pelot.
(USA) Inc.; 1.91 acres; Lake acres; Ross Township. Donald Joseph Stoudt and
Township. Linda M. Halye.
Lewis E. Naugle and Mary Ann MARRIAGE LICENSES Michael M. Lanius and Sheila
S. Naugle to Encana Oil & Gas Frank Ceklosky and Linda Ann Quarzenski.
(USA) Inc.; 1.5 acres; Lehman Walton. John Anthony Costa Jr. and
Township. Brian McDermott and Nichole Miranda Lee Hildebrand.
David R. Williams and Bertha Marie Malinovitch. Damian Yarnell and Jennifer
M. Williams to Encana Oil & Gas Michael Joseph Prushinski and Stash.
CASH IN
NOW!
Pre
Ste mium
rlin Pay
gJ F
ewe or
Gold
lry
WHILE THE PRICES ARE STILL AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH!
Get Your Best Offer From The Other Guys –
THEN SEE US!
BOB KALINOWSKI / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
EVERYONE CAN USE SOME EXTRA CASH
C
police arrived, the pulled in ... So Come On In And Bring Us Your Old Unwanted Jewelry, Broken
front of the vehicle and an
Watches, Coins And More. Right Now Gold Is Still At An All Time
officer immediately accused
High – Don’t Be Sorry Later On – Come In Today – DON’T WAIT!
him of being intoxicated,
Gonos said.
“There was absolutely
SPECIALIZING
IN BUYING
zero nothing wrong with LARGE
AMPAS
DIAMONDS
me,” Gonos said.
Barry Dyller, an attorney
who shares the same build-
ing as Gonos and will repre-
sent him if he pursues civil
action, has sued Steve and
the Wilkes-Barre Police
JEWELERS
Department on behalf of
another client before. That WATCH
BATTERIES
history, Gonos said, may ONLY $4
have contributed to his
THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
INSTALLED!
arrest. At The
Corner of
“I think there’s a connec-
ASH!
Main &
tion,” Gonos said, noting he Bennett
asked to call Dyller minutes Streets
after police started question-
ing him at the scene.
CAMPAS JEWELERS
Dyller said Wednesday
that he represented a woman
arrested for public drunken-
THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2010 – 9
ness. Steve, she claimed,
lured her from her home to
476 BENNETT STREET, LUZERNE
justify the arrest. Dyller said
they settled the matter pri-
vately.
Asked about what he plans
for the Gonos case, Dyller
288-1966
said, “It’s not over.”
bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055
Mon.-Fri. 10-6; Sat. 10-3
psweet@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2117
WB_VOICE/PAGES [T09] | 06/23/10 21:20 | SUPERIMPWB