BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — A State College man who was wrongly arrested in Nov. after threatening phone messages were left at schools in the Hollidaysburg School District has filed a civil rights lawsuit against a former Blair County district attorney, various police departments and school officials.
Hollidaysburg Police charged 31-year-old Scott Vinosky with terroristic threats and risking catastrophe after a series of strange phone calls were made at Hollidaysburg schools Nov. 20.
In the recorded phone messages, the caller referred to himself as “Mr. Fantastic” and demanded the school officials to reallocate resources to help save the world, or else he’d “be forced to do something he really don’t like doing,” according to police.
The lawsuit alleges that Vinosky was arrested and charged even though Logan Township police arrested a man who admitted to making the calls just minutes after the calls were made.
According to state police, the man who actually made the calls was 24-year old Javier Cantos Jr., who has since been arrested and charged.
According to the lawsuit, Vinosky was a student at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and had entered the final semester of his Master of Education program.
Vinosky was participating in an internship where he worked at Frankstown Elementary School and Hollidaysburg Senior High School.
Around Nov. 15, the lawsuit says Vinosky became aware of information from a student that he believed he needed to report because he was a mandated reporter.
According to the lawsuit, while Vinosky was making the report, his supervisor Hully Hoover, who is named as a defendant, screamed at Vinosky for making the report.
On Nov. 19, 2019, Hoover and another defendant, Perk Oettinger, informed Vinosky that his internship was being terminated.
The threatening phone calls were made the following day, according to police.
The lawsuit says defendants Maureen Letcher and Hoover listened to the messages and told police they were “positive” the voice in the messages belonged to Vinosky.
The lawsuit alleges that police filed charges against Vinosky based on statements made by Letcher, Hoover and Oettinger and if officers would have investigated further, they would have known the person who made the calls was already identified and detained.
According to the lawsuit, the criminal complaint was filed Nov. 21, with the approval of then Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio.
Meanwhile, the complaint alleges, that Allegheny Township police had detained Cantos who confessed to making the calls, but police failed to notify Hollidaysburg School District or the other police departments involved.
Police showed up to Vinosky’s State College home Thursday Nov. 21 at which point officers detained him, interrogated him and searched his apartment, the lawsuit says.
Vinosky was handcuffed and taken to the Hollidaysburg Police Department where he was further interrogated, the lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit claims that Vinsoky was eventually forced to take a lie detector test, was harassed by correctional officers and placed in a cell with up to 12 other inmates.
Following Vinosky’s arrest, the Hollidaysburg Area School District released a message to parents identifying him as the person who made the threatening phone calls.
State police also sent out a media release to local news outlets identifying Vinosky, the lawsuit says.
Vinosky is suing Consiglio and the other officers involved claiming the experience has caused mental health issues and has damaged his reputation and employment opportunities.
He's suing the three high school staff members, claiming emotional distress.
He's also bringing claims against Blair County, Penn State and several municipalities, alleging failure to train, supervise and discipline Consiglio or the officers.
6 News reached out to the Blair County District Attorney’s office for comment but has not heard back.
In November, Consiglio stood by his decision, saying the caller gave a deadline and law enforcement needed to act quickly to protect the community, but that Vinosky's arrest was an unfortunate mistake.
Chief Estep was unavailable for comment Wednesday. Vinosky's representation did not return 6 News’ phone calls.
You can read the full lawsuit below or by clicking here:
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