Evidence tampering charges withdrawn against Arnold policeman in Pa. Game Commission case

After being found not guilty last week of unlawfully killing an antlered deer, charges of tampering with evidence were withdrawn Tuesday against an Arnold police officer because of a lack of evidence.

Pennsylvania Game Commission officials said Jacob A. Pollick, 29, of Murrysville killed an antlered whitetail Oct. 11 in the area of the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer outside of legal hunting hours.

Pollick’s attorney in that case, Dan Joseph, said it was determined that Pollick had taken the deer during the daylight hours of Oct. 10.

In a separate criminal complaint, the commission alleged Pollick tried to hide deer skulls outside his home, which led to the tampering charge. Game wardens said they arrived at Pollick’s home in November to find him holding two deer skulls, after he had told them he was bear hunting in Armstrong County.

Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney Michael Pacek said the deer skulls in question had been photographed but not physically seized as evidence by Game Warden Madison Pugh.

“She gave the evidence back to the defendant, so we don’t have them in our possession,” Pacek said. “Without that evidence, we don’t have a case.”

Joseph said the antlers in Pollick’s possession were from prior hunts.

District Judge Charles Conway asked Pollick if he was willing to turn over the skulls.

“No, sir,” Pollick said.

Pugh apologized to Conway.

“It did not even occur to me that giving back the antlers would be an issue,” she said.

Pollick also has a May 3 preliminary hearing in District Judge Carolyn Bengel’s Brackenridge court on charges of witness intimidation, as game wardens said he encouraged a friend to lie if subpoenaed about the case.

Arnold Mayor Joe Bia II said Pollick will remain on unpaid leave “until he’s fully cleared.”