Attorney Aaron Martin Secures Settlement of Civil Rights Case Against City of Hazleton Police Officer

The Harrisburg law firm of Mette, Evans & Woodside announces that Attorney Aaron Martin has finalized a $95,000 settlement in a case brought on behalf of firm client Mario Castro against Christopher Debias, a police officer employed by the City of Hazleton. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and alleged violations of Castro’s First and Fourth Amendment rights.

The suit arose out of an interaction between Castro and Debias occurring at City Hall in Hazleton in July of 2021. After the interaction, which was captured on video, Debias arrested, handcuffed and detained Castro. Castro was subjected to a strip search while in custody. Debias subsequently charged Castro with disorderly conduct, but that charge was withdrawn prior to trial.

Martin asserted a lack of probable cause under the Fourth Amendment for Debias’s arrest of Castro, and further asserted that the arrest was in retaliation for Castro’s speech and petitioning activity in violation of the First Amendment.

The case is Castro v. Debias, 3:23-cv-324 (M.D. Pa.).