By the Observer-Reporter

A former Fallowfield Township police officer has been charged with stealing marijuana and cocaine confiscated as evidence in a drug case.

Allen Pettit was charged Tuesday with theft, perjury, hindering apprehension or prosecution, tampering with evidence and obstruction of law enforcement, Washington County District Attorney Steve Toprani announced.

Pettit, a former captain who resigned from the department in October 2006 amid an investigation into his use of the township's credit card to purchase gasoline for himself and a friend, now lives in Harwick, Allegheny County. He was being arraigned before a district judge there.

Toprani began the investigation after filing a request to dismiss drug charges against Charles Paith, 26, of Van Voorhis, because the evidence was missing. Paith was arrested in February 2006 after a search warrant was served at a Van Voorhis house. Fifteen ounces of marijuana and five ounces of cocaine were confiscated following the raid by Pettit.

Toprani said the drugs were determined to be missing from the police department prior to his taking office in January.

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