Pa. Medic Says He`s Not Behind Parody of Mayor

Sept. 10--A Wilkes-Barre paramedic who previously sued Mayor Tom Leighton for "corrupt dealings" regarding a South Wilkes-Barre land sale is now accusing Leighton and the city of targeting him for discipline.

Tyler Hammond, 40, says the city is trying to punish him because it thinks he's behind a satirical Facebook page that mocks Leighton and his administration.

For starters, they have the wrong guy, Hammond claimed in a lawsuit filed Friday after he was subjected to a disciplinary hearing. More importantly, even if he was behind the Facebook page, it would be protected free speech, Hammond's lawsuit claims,

In the latest lawsuit filed Friday against Leighton and the city, Hammond claims the city's attempt to discipline him is retaliation for a Nov. 24, 2009 lawsuit he and his wife filed against Leighton regarding the sale of the Old River Road Bakery.

The couple wanted to buy a sliver of the bakery property and alleged Leighton and assistant city attorney William Vinsko completed a "back-door deal" when the city abruptly pulled the property from a September 2009 tax sale and agreed to sell it to then-towing contractor and Leighton campaign contributor Leo Glodzik III.

Glodzik, whose tenure as the city's tower was marred by allegations of price gouging and overbilling, was suspended May 31 after he was arrested on claims he stole from a vehicle during an FBI sting operation.

The city had planned to sell the property to Glodzik for $38,000, far below the county assessed value of $478,300. The sale was called off after Hammond's lawsuit. Harrold's Pharmacy eventually purchased the property to build a new pharmacy.

Hammond's lawsuit notes that on Sept. 5 he was ordered to attend a Loudermill disciplinary hearing at 10 a.m. on Sept. 6 -- the same time as his attorney, Cynthia Pollick, was taking depositions regarding his federal lawsuit over the land deal. That case is still pending in federal court.

Pollick was unable to attend his discipline hearing. No discipline has been announced.

Hammond, who has worked as a paramedic in the city for 13 years, denies he is behind the satirical Facebook page, which currently is offline.

The suit claims he is being "subjected to the retaliatory act of false allegations of wrongdoing."

City Municipal Manager Drew McLaughlin said the city and mayor typically do not discuss ongoing litigation.

Leighton did not return a phone message left Monday.

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055 @cvbobkal

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