NORTHERN CAMBRIA - State police Monday accused a local suspended police chief of playing sick.
State police charged Chief Kevin Stanek for forging sick slips to collect money from the borough for 100 unused sick days while on suspension without pay stemming from a May arrest in Susquehanna Township.
Police said Stanek, 49, of Northern Cambria collected $8,423.10 for six forged sick slips.
Dr. Brian Foulk of Cherry Tree Family Medicine in Cherry Tree told police he wrote two slips dated April 29 to May 13 and May 12 to May 26 for the chief. The other slips were photo copies of the first two slips with altered dates, police said.
Police charged him with two counts of forgery and one count of theft by deception. Stanek was serving the suspension for an April vehicle stop involving his stepson. According to police, Stanek showed up to the incident drunk and became unruly, forcing the arresting officer to pepper spray him.
Two felony charges of aggravated assault and terroristic threats were dropped against Stanek in magisterial district court. Stanek's case is pending in Cambria County Court.
Two felony charges of aggravated assault and terroristic threats were dropped against Stanek in magisterial district court. Stanek's case is pending in Cambria County Court.
Stanek also was charged Monday with three counts of insurance fraud for an incident that occurred two years ago.
All charges were filed before Magisterial District Judge Michael Zungali of Hastings.
The insurance fraud charges stem from an alleged hit and run crash involving Stanek's personal vehicle, a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Stanek said his vehicle was struck in the parking lot of the BiLo grocery store on Betts Avenue Oct. 4, 2006, by an unknown vehicle. He said his wife, Debra Stanek, was the operator of the vehicle at the time it was parked.
Stanek allegedly directed one of his officers to complete an accident report of the hit-and-run crash.
In June 2008, Dan Pellas, who is employed at Bob's Automotive Service Center, told state police investigators that Stanek's Jeep was backed into by a truck driven by his father, Robert Pellas - Debra Stanek's father. Robert Pellas is now deceased. Dan Pellas also said his father and mother, Patricia Pellas, agreed to pay for the parts to repair the Jeep.
In July, investigators determined that Erie Insurance paid $1,701.20 to Kevin Stanek for the reported hit and run crash.
Dan Pellas later provided investigators with a photocopy of a check from the account of Robert and Patricia Pellas made payable to Stoystown Auto Wreckers for $800. The check was written five days prior to the reported crash.
Patricia Pellas told police she was called Sept. 29, 2006, by her daughter, Debra Stanek, and she was complaining about her father backing into her Jeep.
Patricia Pellas also said that when her husband arrived home, he said they had to go to Stoystown Auto Wreckers the morning of Sept. 30 to pick up parts for Stanek's Jeep. He said he accidentally backed into the Jeep at Bob's Auto.
Dan Pellas told investigators he had a conversation with his sister Debra Stanek about the crash Sept. 30, four days before the date of the crash on the accident report. He said Debra Stanek explained how the crash occurred and said not to worry, that her husband, Kevin Stanek, would file a report so that her insurance company would cover it as a hit-and-run.
Stanek was released on $10,000 bail on Monday's charges. A preliminary hearing has not been set.
Last week, Stanek submitted his request for retirement to the Northern Cambria Borough Council, citing personal health and family issues.
Attorney Thomas Dickey said Stanek turned himself in to the district justice at 11 a.m. Monday. He was released on unsecured bond and entered pleas of not guilty on all counts, Dickey said.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.
