Stanley P. Brozana Jr., 72 – Served 37 Years as Orwigsburg Police Chief
A Schuylkill County man has been charged with vehicle theft after allegedly taking a Schuylkill Haven Borough Police Dept. vehicle and driving to Delaware in it.
According to court documents filed Monday, Richard Weiss, 49, of Schuylkill Haven, arrived at the borough’s police station on Parkway at 2:18 a.m. this morning to turn himself in on an active warrant for his arrest.
Police say they checked with Schuylkill County dispatchers and learned that there was no warrant for Weiss’ arrest. Weiss was told to walk home.
At 3:38 a.m., Schuylkill County dispatchers phoned police in Schuylkill Haven to check if all their vehicles were parked in the lot next to the station. That’s when it was noticed that a one of the vehicles was missing.
According to a timeline provided by Schuylkill Haven police, after reviewing security footage, the missing truck was parked in the lot outside the station at 1:39 a.m. Monday morning. The vehicle was idling and a spare key in the ignition.
Police say the vehicle was locked at 1:45 a.m. using the regular key fob for that missing vehicle and the fob was taken into the station. A little more than a half-hour later, Weiss shows up at the police station checking on a warrant for his arrest.
At 2:50 a.m. Weiss is seen returning to the police station parking lot on foot from Parkway. He walks over to the vehicle, opens the driver’s side door, gets in, and pulls out. Weiss uses each turn signal when exiting the lot near W. Penn St., eventually turning right, headed west.
Backup was called after the vehicle was confirmed missing. A BOLO alert was issued through Schuylkill County dispatchers at 3:53 a.m.
At 3:30 a.m., police say dispatchers phoned and said a Schuylkill Haven Police vehicle was spotted at the Wawa parking lot in Leesport. Berne Township Police reportedly told dispatchers that Weiss entered the store, went behind the counter and took cigarettes and candy.
A Wawa store manager reportedly confronted Weiss in the store. Weiss said he was an off-duty officer and pointed to the Schuylkill Haven police vehicle. Police were notified of this incident due to Weiss’ suspicious actions. Weiss reportedly left the cigarettes and candy on the store counter and left.
Berne Township Police arrived about two minutes after Weiss left Wawa.
Dispatchers in Berks County phoned police in Schuylkill Haven and said the last hit they had on the stolen police vehicle’s registration was at 3:52 a.m. at the intersection of Routes 12 and 73 but it was unclear in which direction the vehicle went.
At 6:07 a.m., Philadelphia Police Dept. called Schuylkill Haven and said that Weiss and the stolen vehicle were actively being detained by Wilmington (Del.) Amtrak Police Dept.
Schuylkill Haven police officers then went to Wilmington, Del., and took custody of the stolen vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, it was noted that the department’s semi-automatic M4 tactical 12-gauge shotgun was inside but it didn’t appear as though Weiss tampered with it.
Police have filed two felony theft charges, one for the vehicle and one for the shotgun, as well as two felony counts of receiving stolen property against Weiss. He’s also facing a misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He’ll be arraigned in Schuylkill County, pending his extradition from Delaware.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...
