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Burnham man stole, sold fire company property

From staff reports

LEWISTOWN — A Burnham man has been charged with theft of property belonging to a fire company and fire police officer.

According to court documents, on July 7, Terry Beers, deputy chief of the Junction Fire Co., reported a theft from the fire house at 6395 state Route 103 North, Building 43. Beers told Granville Township Police Officer Chad Brehman that there was equipment from the fire house sold online by a former member of the fire house, later identified as Matthew Miller, 34. of Burnham. According to documents, Beers said the equipment belonged to the fire house, and not Miller, who was on suspension from the fire house and banned from the building. Beers said he was contacted by Shawn Stidfole about purchasing the items from Miller and wanted to check with Beers to make sure the items were not stolen. The two were not able to speak until the items had been purchased by Stidfole.

According to documents, Brehman spoke with Stidfole, who said he found Miller selling a pager, radio and siren on a Facebook classified page. The two met at Red’s Dinner at noon on July 7, and Stidfole gave Miller $100 for the pager, radio and siren. At the time, according to documents, Miller said the items belonged to him and he no longer needed them. Miller also tried to sell some fire gear but Stidfole said no. According to documents, Stidfole then went to the Junction Fire House to make sure the items were not stolen. He was able to speak with Samuel Baumgardner, a lieutenant with the fire company, who was able to look up the serial number and found an old receipt showing the pager, a Motorola Minitor V with serial number 136WNX3878, was purchased by the Junction Fire Co.

According to documents, Baumgardner said the Motorola XTS3000 radio which was bought by Stidfole had an identifier. When activated the Mifflin County Communications Center state the radio had identified as radio Engine 15-5, which would belong to the engine-rescue of the fire company. According to documents, the radio was not assigned to a certain fireman and should have been kept in the engine. Beers then advised police that there was a radio missing from the engine-rescue.

According to documents, Stidfole also purchased an old Galls siren from Miller and Baumgardner advised that it belonged to Harry Beers, chief of the Granville Township Fire Police. Brehman then contacted Harry Beers, who said he let Miller borrow the siren but Miller was to return it when done with it. According to documents, Harry Beers was able to identify the siren and said at no time did he give Miller permission to keep it.

According to documents, the value of the radio is $300 used and the pager is valued at $125 and speaker valued at $80.

Miller was arrested on multiple misdemeanour charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23 before Magisterial District Judge Jack Miller.

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