Former Elizabeth police chief charged with stealing heroin evidence
ELIZABETH – The police chief in Elizabeth who resigned Tuesday is facing allegations he stole a large amount of heroin evidence and then disposed of many empty stamp bags in his office.
The Allegheny County district attorney’s office filed theft and drug possession charges Thursday against Timothy L. Butler, 42, who also faces accusations he stole thousands of dollars in money collected from borough parking meters, court records show.
Butler, of Jefferson Hills, is also charged with obstruction for allegedly taking control of heroin seized in drug cases, amounts that included 33 bricks, 62 bundles and more than 6,000 loose stamp bags of heroin.
Some of the stamp bags that had been emptied were discovered in the trash can in Butler’s office, the affidavit alleges.
Butler was placed on paid leave Dec. 7 after he confessed to being addicted to heroin and blamed the physicians who had prescribed him Vicodin for neck and back pain, the record indicates.
“Butler stated that, ‘It was all gone,’ that any heroin in evidence was all gone,” the investigating detective noted in the affidavit.
Butler met again with borough officials Dec. 11. “Butler was crying at the time and apologized, stating that he could not believe this was happening to him … once they got me off the pills I had no choice,” the affidavit states.
Meanwhile, Butler was tasked with collecting and depositing parking meter money, and he has been accused of failing to make any deposits in 2017, court records show. The amount of missing money could range between $4,100 and $5,900, according to borough records.
Butler has been employed with the borough for many years, having been appointed chief three years ago.
He is free on unsecured bond set by District Judge Beth Scagline Mills.
His attorney, Charles R. Lopresti, could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.