Ex- Elizabeth Borough police chief admits to stealing heroin
The former Elizabeth Borough police chief pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug possession, theft and obstruction of the administration of law after investigators found nearly 10,000 missing or empty stamp bags of heroin or fentanyl from the department’s property room in his office.
Timothy Butler, 43, of Finleyville, who resigned his position two days before his arrest in December, will remain free on bond pending sentencing Nov. 20 before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Robert J. Colville.
A sergeant in the police department told detectives from the Allegheny County district attorney’s office that Mr. Butler had been acting suspiciously and that they’d seen him interact with a person who they believed had heroin. That person told officers he was making controlled drug buys for the chief, according to the criminal complaint. The sergeant said that would be unlikely.
On Dec. 7, the criminal complaint said, Mr. Butler admitted to the sergeant that he became addicted to heroin after he’d been prescribed Vicodin for neck and back pain.
He admitted that he took all suspected heroin out of the department’s property room, of which he was the sole custodian.
A search of Mr. Butler’s office revealed 62 bundles and 2,700 loose stamp bags in his trash can, the criminal complaint said. There were an additional 535 loose stamp bags in and around his desk — all empty. Another envelope that said it contained 2,531 bags of heroin also was empty.
Defense attorney Charles LoPresti said his client had moved on with his life and is working full time as a laborer.
Mr.
Butler also completed an outpatient drug treatment program.
“Addiction does not discriminate in terms of profession or career choice,” Mr. LoPresti said. “It was always about addiction.”
Charges of theft, alleging that Mr. Butler failed to deposit the borough’s parking meter money during 2017, were withdrawn.
“There’s no dishonesty involved,” Mr. LoPresti said, noting that Mr. Butler always denied stealing any money.
Elizabeth Mayor Barry Boucher and several borough council members attended Mr. Butler’s plea hearing.
Mr. Boucher had no comment afterward.