Former public defender found not guilty in incident with Greensburg police

A former Westmoreland County assistant public defender was found not guilty of evading arrest by a Greensburg police officer last fall following a traffic stop.

Following a lengthy hearing Tuesday, David Mulock, 38, of Murrysville was acquitted on one summary count in connection with an incident Oct. 4 on North Main Street. He was accused of attempting to walk away from police that day as he was being cited for operating a vehicle without a valid inspection.

Senior Common Pleas Judge Richard E. McCormick Jr. granted Mulock’s appeal of the guilty finding last fall by District Judge Thomas S. Brletic after the charge was downgraded from a misdemeanor to a summary offense. Brletic also convicted Mulock of two additional summary citations for operating a vehicle without a valid inspection and improperly displaying his Volkswagen’s license plate.

Mulock this week withdrew his appeal of the vehicle-related citations and was ordered to pay $50 in fines as he continued to challenge the evading arrest claim.

Defense attorney Tim Dawson argued police never officially asked Mulock to produce documents, denied he attempted to avoid being detained and that police had no authority to arrest him following the traffic stop.

Dawson said state law prohibits municipal police officers in Pennsylvania from arresting in-state drivers solely for motor vehicle violations.

Prosecutors from the state’s Attorney General’s Office claimed Mulock fled from a lawful detention.

Mulock, according to county records, was fired in late October from his job in the Public Defender’s Office.

Dawson said Mulock is seeking to return to the Public Defender’s Office and is slated to appear before an arbitrator next month for a hearing to evaluate claims his job should be restored.

Public Defender Wayne McGrew on Wednesday declined to comment on Mulock’s job status.

Mulock was previously suspended from the Public Defender’s Office following his arrest in 2021 in connection with an incident at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Police claimed he was intoxicated and resisted arrest after he reportedly refused to let them see his identification card.

According to court records, Mulock pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and public drunkenness, was sentenced to serve one year on probation and briefly returned to work in the Public Defender’s Office early last year.