(NewsNation)—Pennsylvania authorities are fighting back against Luigi Mangione after his legal team accused police of improperly detaining and arresting him at an Altoona McDonald’s last December.
In response to a pre-trial motion from Mangione’s attorney to throw out evidence connected to that initial arrest, this court document, filed Monday by prosecutors, denies any break in protocol during his Pennsylvania arrest.
Mangione’s defense team filed a lengthy legal document saying law enforcement approached him, prevented him from leaving, and created something of a wall where Mangione couldn’t get out.
According to the prosecution, law enforcement approached Mangione to merely ascertain whether or not Mangione was the suspect that was being sought by the NYPD in connection with the murder of late UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan on Dec. 4.
Prosecutors say that when asked for ID, Mangione allegedly willingly handed them forged identification, and in doing so, created probable cause to arrest.
Mangione is facing a state murder case and a federal murder case in New York, as well as a case in Altoona.
Mangione was in federal court on Friday, where he was arraigned on four charges. The death penalty remains on the table.
He pleaded not guilty to the federal charges of murder and federal stalking. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the state charges also.
