Pittsburgh Police Accused of Unlawful Taser Use, Arrest of Autistic Man

Lawsuit alleges officers failed to recognize and properly respond to man's autism during 2024 incident.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The city of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, three officers, and a commander have been named in a lawsuit over the February 2024 arrest of a man with autism. The lawsuit alleges the officers used a Taser on the man, Kevin Dunn, and arrested him without justification after he displayed behaviors associated with his autism during a neighborhood walk.

Why it matters

The case highlights concerns over law enforcement's ability to recognize and appropriately respond to individuals with autism and other neurodivergent conditions. Advocates argue better training is needed to avoid escalating encounters and causing further trauma.

The details

According to the lawsuit, Dunn, who has autism, was on an afternoon walk in his neighborhood when he was suddenly surrounded by police cars. Officers allegedly tried to detain Dunn before he ran to his aunt's nearby porch, where police then wrestled him to the ground and used a Taser on him 'without any rational justification.' Dunn was taken to the hospital and released without charges. The lawsuit alleges the officers failed to recognize Dunn's autism, including his use of a small stick for stimming, and that the police bureau lacks proper training for interacting with neurodivergent individuals.

  • The incident occurred in February 2024.
  • The lawsuit was filed in March 2026.

The players

Kevin Dunn

A man with autism who was the subject of the 2024 police encounter.

James Tallman

The attorney representing Dunn in the lawsuit.

Jesse Torisky

The president and CEO of Autism Pittsburgh, who provides autism-focused training for law enforcement.

Seth Tessmer, Jordan Price, and Anthony Rosato

The three Pittsburgh police officers named in the lawsuit.

Raymond Rippole

The Pittsburgh police commander named in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“He respects police officers, likes police officers, has had a good, sort of, feeling toward police officers throughout his life until this happened. Unfortunately, this has had an impact on how he views police officers.”

— James Tallman, Attorney representing Kevin Dunn (wbal.com)

“It can oftentimes be misinterpreted if you don't understand what it is. Plain and simple. The more you're able to familiarize yourself with that, the better it is that you'll be able to make the best decision under the circumstances.”

— Jesse Torisky, President and CEO of Autism Pittsburgh (wbal.com)

“If they can identify early on that this person's on the spectrum, it would greatly increase the likelihood of a less violent result.”

— Jesse Torisky, President and CEO of Autism Pittsburgh (wbal.com)

What’s next

The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial in the case against the city of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the named officers and commander.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical need for better training and awareness among law enforcement on how to recognize and appropriately respond to individuals with autism and other neurodivergent conditions. Failure to do so can lead to traumatic encounters that erode public trust in the police.