Woman Accuses Riverside County Deputy of Stalking and Harassment

Allegations of Stalking and Harassment

• 📌 Brianna Ortega claims a brief interaction with Riverside County Deputy Eric Piscatella in September 2023 led to months of unwanted contact.
• 💬 Ortega states she received unsolicited, increasingly romantic text messages from the deputy after their initial meeting at a family event.
• 🏠 The situation escalated when Deputy Piscatella showed up at Ortega's home unannounced, while in uniform.

Abuse of Authority and Investigation

• 🚨 Ortega became suspicious during the home visit and began recording the encounter, during which the deputy complimented her.
• 🔍 Her attorney confirmed that the deputy allegedly used law enforcement databases to access Ortega's personal information, including her phone number and address.
• ⚖️ As a result of an investigation following Ortega's report, Deputy Piscatella was criminally charged and ultimately pled to several misdemeanor counts.

Lingering Fear and Lawsuit

• 😥 Nearly two years later, Ortega still experiences fear and has taken measures like installing cameras to protect herself.
• 🏛️ Ortega has filed a lawsuit against the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, seeking accountability.
• ⚠️ The attorney and Ortega express concern that similar abuses of authority could occur in other departments.
• 🚫 Deputy Piscatella is no longer with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department following the charges.