Friday, February 2, 2018

Intern Charged for Theft of Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office Vehicle

An intern has been charged with the theft of a vehicle from the Schuylkill County Sheriff's office.

According to Pottsville Police Chief Richard Wojciechowsky, on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 around 7:15pm, Pottsville Police were dispatched to the Schuylkill County Courthouse to speak with a Sheriff’s Deputy concerning a stolen Sheriff's Department vehicle.

Through investigation Police learned that the Schuylkill County Communications Center had been contacted by a Police Lieutenant from Penn State Hazelton Campus who advised that there had been a marked Schuylkill County Sheriff's vehicle on the Penn State Hazelton Campus and he was inquiring as to the reason why.

It was learned that no one had authorization to be in that area at that time with a Schuylkill county car.

A representative from the Sheriff’s office advised officers that Bryan Bascombe, 23, of Brooklyn, NY was an active intern with their department and he was also a student at Penn State Hazelton Campus.

Upon checking the Sheriff’s fleet of cars one vehicle was found to be recently utilized, despite all employees being away from work.

It was also learned that Bascombe had been to the Sheriff Department facilities at the Schuylkill County Courthouse on this date.

Based on the information received Penn State Hazelton Police were requested to make contact with Bascombe while Pottsville Police were en route to talk with him.

Bascombe was later interviewed by Pottsville Police officers Paul Olson and Braden Jones at which time he admitted to taking possession of the keys without anyone’s knowledge while he had been in the Sheriff’s Department offices that day and then taking the marked vehicle back to campus with him at approximately 4:15pm, after other officers had left for the day.

After driving around the campus and speaking with some students while in the car, Bascombe decided to return the car to the Schuylkill County courthouse lot and retrieve his personal vehicle.

As a result of the investigation a criminal complaint was prepared charging Bascombe with Felony Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Receiving Stolen Property, and Theft (of the key).

Bascombe was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Rossi and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $20.000 cash bail.

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