Judge overturns citations issued to ex-Fawn supervisor accused of harassing officer at his new job

A former Fawn supervisor who was found guilty in October of harassing a police officer in Armstrong County and following his vehicle too closely has had both convictions overturned.

David A. Montanari, 64, of the 1600 block of Bull Creek Road in Fawn was issued a citation by Manor Township police Chief Christopher Robbins, who accused him of harassing one of his officers Aug. 1, according to a copy of the citation.

Robbins said Montanari was following Officer Keith F. Lazaron II in a public place after the officer warned Montanari to leave him alone, according to the citation.

Robbins also gave Montanari a traffic citation for following Lazaron’s vehicle too closely.

Montanari was found guilty of both charges and ordered to pay fines totaling $494.50, court records show.

He appealed the verdict, which was reversed Monday by an Armstrong County judge, according to court staff.

Montanari, who lost his bid to run for a fifth term as supervisor when he was defeated in the 2021 spring primary, and Lazaron knew each other before the Aug. 1 encounter, according to authorities.

Montanari was a Fawn supervisor when Lazaron filed a federal lawsuit accusing him of orchestrating his firing from the police department.

Lazaron asked for the lawsuit to be dismissed June 14, 2022, according to the docket.

He was hired as a Manor police officer in January.