The defense for a Pittsburgh police detective who lives in Butler County said Wednesday, March 25, she believes her client will be cleared of charges stemming from an alleged bar fight on Feb. 8.

A preliminary hearing Wednesday for Richard L. Dilimone Jr., 36, of Adams Township, was continued by the prosecution after an alleged victim did not appear.

Dilimone was charged March 11 by Pleasant Hills police with felony aggravated assault after security footage allegedly showed Dilimone striking a patron of Pleasant Bar in Allegheny County in the forehead with a beer bottle.

Police were dispatched to the bar at 1:08 a.m. Feb. 8 for the assault. Police said the victim sustained a large laceration to the forehead and was taken by Baldwin EMS to a hospital.

“Quite frankly, that evening, he was merely acting in the capacity that he’s been trained to do — defending others,” said defense attorney Nicole Nino, of Phil DiLucente & Associates, after the hearing.

An assistant district attorney told the judge witness testimony in the case is needed because the security video by itself does not contain enough evidence to affirm the charge.

“In Pennsylvania, defense of others and self-defense, those are still affirmative defenses,” Nino said.

The hearing was rescheduled for 10 a.m. April 15 before District Judge Thomas Miller Jr.

“We do believe that he will find justice and be cleared,” Nino said.

Nino declined to comment on the status of Dilimone’s employment with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.