On Thursday, Pennsylvania State Police bodycam footage took center stage in a Westmoreland County magistrate's courtroom, as a Pittsburgh-area man and his attorney pushed to have his misdemeanor charges thrown out. They argue troopers used excessive force during a search and arrest inside a Jeannette home tied to a deadly hit-and-run case.
The video, recorded while troopers executed a search warrant at the home in connection with the July 31, 2025, hit-and-run that killed 19-year-old Jayden Lynch, was played for the magistrate as part of the proceeding. James Grady remains charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, but his attorney says his injuries tell a very different story from the one the state is offering.
Attorney Says Footage Shows Grady Pinned And Badly Hurt
Grady's lawyer, Devin O'Leary, told the magistrate that his client was asleep when officers "kicked his door in," then was pinned and immediately arrested instead of being questioned. O'Leary said medical records show Grady later sought treatment for a fractured vertebra, six broken ribs, a lacerated liver, and contusions to his face and nose.
Those injury claims, and the fact that the bodycam footage was shown in court, were reported by CBS Pittsburgh. For Grady's side, that combination of video and medical paperwork is the core of their excessive-force argument.
State Police Say Troopers Followed Procedure
A Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson told CBS Pittsburgh that Grady "did not comply with police commands" and that troopers made him put his hand behind his back so they could handcuff him. The spokesperson said Grady was not tased and "walked out of the home with the officers under his own power."
According to the spokesperson, Grady was not injured at the scene and did not ask for medical help. The department said he would have been taken to a hospital if he had requested it. State police added that the matter remains under investigation, so the bodycam video is now effectively Exhibit A for both sides.
How The Arrest Connects To The Fatal E-Bike Crash
The search warrant was part of the investigation into the July 31, 2025, hit-and-run that killed Jayden Lynch. Investigators say the vehicle involved belonged to Grady and that 37-year-old William Sever was driving.
The Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office has posted that evidence, including a bumper piece, traffic-camera footage, and cell-phone data, helped identify the vehicle and led troopers to the Jeannette home where Grady was arrested. Local outlets and community coverage have tracked the manhunt and the twists that followed; see earlier manhunt coverage for additional background.
What Happens Next
The magistrate's review is an early procedural step. Grady and his attorney urged the judge to dismiss the resisting arrest and disorderly conduct charges, while prosecutors stressed that the broader investigation into the crash remains open. According to local reporting, William Sever was taken into custody and arraigned in late January.
The magistrate's decision will determine whether the charges against Grady move forward for formal prosecution. For now, the public record on both the hit-and-run investigation and the arrest-related claims remains limited, and prosecutors, defense counsel, and state police all say the matter is ongoing. Any conclusions will unfold through the investigative process and in court.
