Ex-township worker stole gasoline
UNION TOWNSHIP – A Pattersonville man is accused of stealing gasoline from the township building where he previously worked.
Shaun D. Briggs, 40, of 24 Pattersonville Road, is facing felony trespassing, misdemeanor theft and receiving stolen property charges for the incident.
Union Township Police Chief Phil Beaver filed the charges Friday, and Briggs was arraigned Tuesday and released on $15,000 unsecured bail.
The incidents occurred in March — on March 15 and 27 — and were discovered when Beaver was reviewing security camera footage at the township building on Zion Grove Road for an unrelated incident.
According to Beaver’s criminal complaint, Briggs entered the unlocked township building twice, walked behind a coat rack where the key to the gas pump was, took the key, and filled up his Buick and a gas can before returning the key.
He did this on two occasions, Beaver said, taking 37 gallons of gasoline.
At Tuesday night’s township meeting, Solicitor Bob Matta said Briggs had not worked for the township for at least a year and recommended several policy and procedure changes moving forward.
Matta suggested locking the building at all times as well as instituting a better system to log gasoline usage.
A preliminary hearing is set for next Wednesday.
Briggs is related to David Briggs, a township supervisor and the township’s roadmaster. He did not comment on the matter.
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