Charges held against former Arnold police chief Eric Doutt

Eric Doutt, a former Arnold police chief, was ordered to stand trial on theft, receiving stolen property, obstruction and drug-related charges after a search of his home allegedly turned up cocaine and items reported missing from the city’s police department.

Washington Township District Judge Jason Buczak on Monday held for court the nine charges against Doutt, 56, of Arnold.

Doutt was a former Arnold police officer and chief until his retirement Jan. 1, 2024. He previously served on the New Kensington-Arnold School Board. He was most recently employed as a police officer for UPMC. A spokesperson there said they had since terminated his employment.

“My hope is that this case will be resolved in another manner and form unlike today,” said Doutt’s attorney, Phil DiLucente.

“He’s given his whole life to public service. My client has been in a vulnerable position. We’re hopeful this can be resolved and taken into consideration his valiant efforts and all the good he’s done in 30-plus years as chief as well as in law enforcement.”

Doutt was taken into custody Nov. 13 in connection to a drug investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office. He was arrested in East Franklin, Armstrong County, investigators say, after he was followed from a meeting with an informant during which he sold the informant cocaine. A preliminary hearing in Armstrong County on those charges is scheduled for Wednesday.

A subsequent search warrant was served on Doutt’s home in Arnold, authorities said.

Narcotics Agent Douglas Brink testified that Doutt told investigators an AR-15 rifle was inside his house and that it was taken from the Arnold police evidence room.

The gun was evidence from a prior case when Doutt was working for the Arnold police department, investigators say. The gun was scheduled to be destroyed, but Doutt told investigators he intended to, at some point, return it to its owner, according to authorities.

Brink testified that detectives had also found cocaine, scales and a bag containing lidocaine hydrochloride, believed to be used as a cutting agent for cocaine, inside Doutt’s residence.

Other items found in Doutt’s residence included a set of leg shackles with “APD” engraved on them, a portable radio reported missing from the department, and an Arnold police jacket also reported missing, authorities said.

DiLucente had asked that the theft charge related to the leg shackles and the theft by failure to make required disposition charges be dropped.

“This is a preliminary hearing,” DiLucente said after the hearing. “A suppression hearing will be necessitated.”

A formal arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 30 before Judge Scott O. Mears in Greensburg.