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Ex-Pennsylvania state trooper files lawsuit claiming he was fired for ‘being white’, after he pulled over black LGBT activist who was ‘committing multiple driving offenses’

&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"wpcnt">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"wpa">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<span class&equals;"wpa-about">Advertisements<&sol;span>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"u top&lowbar;amp">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<amp-ad width&equals;"300" height&equals;"265"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; type&equals;"pubmine"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; data-siteid&equals;"109460728"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; data-section&equals;"1">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;amp-ad>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ff38639dd14b5c767b7931fa9d4ee392 wp-block-paragraph" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;1c0606&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>Andrew Zaborowski&comma; 32&comma; filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Pennsylvania State Police on Tuesday&comma; arguing he was fired due to the color of his skin <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-448ee91106f58ba457132857bf2df6fa wp-block-paragraph" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;1c0606&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>The ex-State Trooper claimed he was fired for being white&comma; amidst controversy surrounding his arrest of a black Philadelphia official during a traffic stop <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9af2464a043c7b572eddcb8730cbbfca wp-block-paragraph" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;1c0606&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>Trooper Zaborowski arrested the former executive director of Philadelphia&&num;8217&semi;s Office of LGBT Affairs&comma; Celena Morrison&comma; and her transgender husband&comma; Darius McLean&comma; on March 2&comma; 2024 <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-aaf7e45f9366f6b3fe54a5aa8f93c623 wp-block-paragraph" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;1c0606&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>State police at the time said Morrison was driving with an expired and suspended registration&comma; with illegally tinted windows&comma; and without illuminated headlights while it was raining <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dd585bb6b17317941a9ae4261571b95b wp-block-paragraph" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;1c0606&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>Two months later&comma; according to Zaborowski&&num;8217&semi;s lawsuit&comma; he was fired from the state police &&num;8216&semi;without any hearing or notice&&num;8217&semi; <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f5c74bbb9c6eea21dbcc3236c11f392b wp-block-paragraph" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;1c0606&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>&&num;8216&semi;The decision to terminate his employment was based on his race and color&comma;&&num;8217&semi; the lawsuit claims<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-003751f81a155ed49fd56721b5845dfd wp-block-paragraph" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;1c0606&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>The couple in an earlier lawsuit accused Zaborowski of using force &&num;8216&semi;without provocation or justification&comma;&&num;8217&semi; and State Police of negligent hiring&comma; retention and supervision&comma; seeking damages in excess of &dollar;50&comma;000<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2025&sol;10&sol;Pennsylvania-State-Trooper-Andrew-Zaborowski-arrests-Celena-Morrison-1&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-487456" style&equals;"width&colon;828px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Pennsylvania State Trooper Andrew Zaborowski has filed a suit claiming he was fired for being white after he was let go amid controversy over his arrest of the black Philadelphia official&comma; <strong>Celena Morriso<&sol;strong>n&comma; during a traffic stop<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">A wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed by a Pennsylvania State Trooper claims he was fired for being white after he was let go amid controversy over his arrest of a black Philadelphia official during a traffic stop&comma; last year March&period;<br>Andrew Zaborowski&comma; 32&comma; filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the State Police on Tuesday&comma; arguing he was fired due to the color of his skin&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2025&sol;10&sol;Celena-Morrison-2&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-487473" style&equals;"width&colon;809px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The controversial traffic stop that culminated in the arrest last year March&comma; of Darius McLean&comma; the husband of Celena Morrison&comma; &lbrack;photo&rsqb;&comma; the executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs in Philadelphia&comma; was caught on camera and shared on Facebook<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Officer Zaborowski arrested Celena Morrison&comma; 53 &comma; a trans woman who at the time was executive director of Philadelphia&&num;8217&semi;s Office of LGBT Affairs&comma; and her transgender husband&comma; Darius McLean&comma; on March 2&comma; 2024&period;<br>Pennsylvania State police previously <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;inquirer&period;com&sol;news&sol;philadelphia&sol;philadelphia-lgbtq-official-traffic-stop-arrests-lawsuit-state-police-20251015&period;html&num;loaded">said<&sol;a> Morrison was driving with an expired and suspended registration&comma; with illegally tinted windows&comma; and without illuminated headlights while it was raining&period; <br>State Police said the officer initiated a traffic stop for a vehicle with multiple violations&period;<br>Trooper Andrew Zaborowski initially pulled over a gray Infinity sedan driven by Andrew Zaborowski&comma; for &&num;8216&semi;multiple Vehicle Code violations&&num;8217&semi;&period; Then her husband&comma; McLean&comma; pulled up in a green Dodge sedan behind the trooper&&num;8217&semi;s cruiser&period;<br>According to police&comma; officer Zaborowski then approached the Dodge and the driver was &&num;8216&semi;verbally combative&&num;8217&semi; and &&num;8216&semi;resisted arrest&&num;8217&semi;&period;<br>At that point Morrison who started recording the is heard yelling &&num;8216&semi;I work for the mayor&&num;8217&semi; as her husband was now on the wet ground&period; As the trooper stood over her husband lying on the side of the road&comma; Morrison said&colon; &&num;8216&semi;That is my husband… That&&num;8217&semi;s my husband please&period;&&num;8217&semi;<br>The trooper tried to handcuff McLean and a scuffle broke out and McLean says &&num;8216&semi;it&&num;8217&semi;s cause I&&num;8217&semi;m black&&num;8217&semi; to which Zaborowski replies &&num;8216&semi;it&&num;8217&semi;s not cause you&&num;8217&semi;re black&&num;8217&semi;&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2025&sol;10&sol;Pennsylvania-State-Trooper-Andrew-Zaborowski-arrests-Celena-Morrison-2&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-487471" style&equals;"width&colon;836px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Former Pennsylvania State Trooper Andrew Zaborowski seen hear arresting <strong>Darius McLean&comma;<&sol;strong> filed a lawsuit claiming he was fired due to the color his skin<&sol;strong>&period; <strong>State police at the time said Morrison was driving with an expired and suspended registration&comma; with illegally tinted windows&comma; and without illuminated headlights while it was raining <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">The video shows the trooper approaching Morrison and she drops her phone&period; He is heard yelling at her &&num;8216&semi;turn around&&num;8217&semi; and &&num;8216&semi;give me your hands or you&&num;8217&semi;re getting tased&&num;8217&semi;&period;<br>Morrison then tells her husband not to worry&comma; before adding&colon; &&num;8216&semi;He just punched me&&num;8217&semi;&period;<br>She can later be heard saying&colon; &&num;8216&semi;What is going on&quest; Why are you so aggressive&quest;&&num;8217&semi;<br>The trooper then picks up her phone and says&colon; &&num;8216&semi;This was a simple traffic stop cause you didn&&num;8217&semi;t have your lights on&period; You didn&&num;8217&semi;t have your lights on and you&&num;8217&semi;re tailgating&period;&&num;8217&semi;<br>Both Morrison and McLean were taken into custody for resisting arrest&comma; obstruction of justice&comma; disorderly conduct and other related charges&comma; but were released later that same day without being charged&period;<br>Morrison worked for&comma;Philadelphia&&num;8217&semi;s Mayor Cherelle Parker&comma; who immediately branded the video &&num;8216&semi;very concerning&&num;8217&semi; in a statement on X&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2025&sol;10&sol;Pennsylvania-State-Trooper-Andrew-Zaborowski-arrests-Celena-Morrison-3&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-487470" style&equals;"width&colon;792px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Andrew Zaborowski was let go after he was captured in viral video arresting the former executive director of Philadelphia&&num;8217&semi;s Office of LGBT Affairs&comma; Celena Morrison&comma; and her trans husband&comma; Darius McLean&comma; seen lying on the wet street<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Zaborowski denies his actions during the arrest had &&num;8216&semi;anything to do with the occupant&&num;8217&semi;s race&&num;8217&semi;&period; <br>&&num;8216&semi;At the time of their arrest&comma; and thereafter&comma; the occupants falsely accused &lbrack;Zaborowski&rsqb; of racial profiling and of assault and battery&comma;&&num;8217&semi; Zaborowski&&num;8217&semi;s lawsuit said&period;<br>In Zaborowski&&num;8217&semi;s filing he claimed that Two months later&comma; he was fired from the state police &&num;8216&semi;without any hearing or notice&&num;8217&semi;&period;<br>He is also claiming that &&num;8216&semi;The decision to terminate &lbrack;his&rsqb; employment was based on his race and color&comma;&&num;8217&semi; the lawsuit stated&period;<br>His lawsuit also alleges that the State Police discriminates against white cops and officers of color get preferential treatment&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2025&sol;10&sol;Pennsylvania-State-Trooper-Andrew-Zaborowski-arrests-Celena-Morrison-4&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-487469" style&equals;"width&colon;790px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>State police previously said McLean was driving with an expired and suspended registration&comma; with illegally tinted windows&comma; and without illuminated headlights while it was raining&period; Morrison and McLean were taken into the custody&comma; then released without being charged<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">&&num;8216&semi;&lbrack;State Police&rsqb; have provided preferential treatment to &lbrack;Zaborowski&&num;8217&semi;s&rsqb; African-American and black peers with regard to the terms and conditions of their employment&comma;&&num;8217&semi; the court document said&period;<br>&&num;8216&semi;African-American and black troopers employed by the PSP have committed serious offenses and have not been disciplined and&sol;or have suffered the harsh discipline of termination&period;<br>&&num;8216&semi;&lbrack;Zaborowski&&num;8217&semi;s&rsqb; aforesaid African-American and black coworkers have been treated with favoritism while he has been treated with unwarranted and unfair scrutiny and discipline with termination&period;&&num;8217&semi;<br>He is seeking back pay&comma; front pay&comma; compensatory damages&comma; punitive damages&comma; counsel fees and costs of suit&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2025&sol;10&sol;Celena-Morrison-left-and-Darius-McLean-1&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-487463" style&equals;"width&colon;840px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Despite the infractions cited by police for the traffic stop and arrest&comma; neither Celena Morrison &lbrack;left&rsqb;&comma; nor and her transgender husband&comma; Darius McLean&comma; &lbrack;right&rsqb;&comma; was charged&period; The couple filed a lawsuit against the PA State Police and Zaborowski in August <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Morrison and McLean were taken into the custody after the arrest&comma; but were released without being charged&period;<br>In August&comma; the couple filed a lawsuit against the State Police and Zaborowski accusing him of assault&comma; false imprisonment and battery&period;<br>They claimed Zaborowski used force &&num;8216&semi;without provocation or justification&comma;&&num;8217&semi; according to the Inquirer&period; <br>The lawsuit also accuses the Pennsylvania State Police of negligent hiring&comma; retention and supervision&comma; and asked for damages in excess of &dollar;50&comma;000&period;<br><br><&sol;p>&NewLine;

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