Arnold police chief accused of stealing money in state-run sting

State narcotics agents say they caught Arnold police Chief Josh Stanga pocketing more than $200 during a sting set up to see if he would properly handle cash and drugs staged in a purportedly stolen vehicle.

In court documents obtained Thursday afternoon, a narcotics agent said Stanga failed an “integrity check” run Aug. 6 by the state attorney general’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and Drug Control, then created a fake report to cover his tracks.

Stanga faces one misdemeanor count each of theft, misapplying entrusted property, obstructing administration of law, unsworn falsification to authorities and tampering with evidence.

Stanga, 41, denied any wrongdoing before going into New Kensington district court about noon Thursday.

“I’m innocent, and I look forward to clearing my name,” he said.

Stanga’s attorney, Valerie Veltri, added: “My client strongly maintains his innocence and is cooperating fully with the legal process. We believe that once all the facts are brought to light in court, in a court of law, that he’s going to be vindicated.”

Attorney Valerie Veltri addresses the media after her client, suspended Arnold police Chief Josh Stanga, was arraigned on theft and other charges stemming from a sting operation. pic.twitter.com/f5irtFiTb1

— Brian Rittmeyer (@BCRittmeyer) September 19, 2024

Veltri said they don’t know why Stanga fell under investigation.

“That’s also something we don’t know. We intend to find that out,” she said. “This came out of the blue as far as we know.”

In a news release, state Attorney General Michelle Henry said the investigation was looking into “allegations of misconduct by former Chief Stanga.”

Stanga was arraigned before Senior Judge Charles Conway, who was sitting in for New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. Pallone recused himself from the case.

Stanga was released without having to post bond. Rick Miller, a narcotics agent with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, said the office does not believe Stanga is a flight risk or a danger to the community. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3.

Asked what he had to say to the people of Arnold, Stanga said he lives there, too.

“I love my Arnold citizens, and I’m still going to be here,” he said. “I’m not hiding. I’m still out and about everywhere I go. I’m not going to hide from this.”

After his arraignment on theft and other charges, suspended Arnold police Chief Josh Stanga said he has nothing to hide. pic.twitter.com/gowyNYcHpE

— Brian Rittmeyer (@BCRittmeyer) September 19, 2024

Henry said Stanga “is charged with offenses that betray the trust of the community which he was sworn to serve and the many officers who perform their duties every day with bravery and integrity.

“As we do in every investigation, we followed the facts. Here, those facts lead to the defendant being charged, regardless of rank or position,” she said.

“Members of law enforcement are entrusted to have the highest standards of integrity, and these charges show that no one is above the law,” said state police Capt. James Cuttitta, director of the Special Investigations Division within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. “A key mission of law enforcement is continuing to ensure public trust is built, and not eroded.”

Arnold placed Stanga on paid administrative leave Aug. 16. Mayor Shannon Santucci said that was done after authorities informed the city that Stanga was being investigated and charges were expected within a month.

In a criminal complaint, Miller said state police acquired a vehicle equipped with video surveillance and entered the car’s license plate in the National Crime Information Center, the country’s central database for such records, as stolen.

Inside, authorities secured $278 with a rubber band and put it in the center cup holder along with eight fake opioid pills, in addition to $35 on the passenger seat, the complaint states.

The vehicle was then left at Union Cemetery in Arnold, and officers reported it to dispatchers as suspicious shortly after, police said.

Miller said Stanga arrived at the location, learned the vehicle was reported stolen and placed the cash and pills in his right pocket. He then informed state police of the apparently stolen vehicle.

In his police report, Stanga only mentioned the pills and the small sum on the passenger seat, the complaint noted.

Three days later, a state police corporal met with Stanga at the Arnold police station and observed that the chief did not document the larger sum, Miller said. The money that was there — the $35 on the seat — matched the serial numbers of the staged cash, the complaint said.

On Aug. 16, Stanga was interviewed at the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office about the incident, where he admitted to taking some money because, he said, “his ex-wife was setting him up,” the complaint states.

After his arraignment, Stanga said he had no comment on his previous accusation about his ex-wife being behind it.

Stanga said he typed a separate report the day of the incident documenting the $278, and planned to return it to the owner of the car, according to the complaint. Officers were then led to his police vehicle, where they recovered $291 — only $50 of which matched the bait money.

Authorities later seized Stanga’s computer and found he had created the secondary report the next day.

After reading the accusations against Stanga, Santucci, who put Stanga up for a vote as chief, said she had nothing to say.

“We will have to wait to see how it plays out,” she said.

Councilman Aaron Moore declined to comment, stating in a text message, “I believe Josh is entitled to tell his own story in his own way.”

Councilman Phil McKinley did not immediately get back to TribLive.

Rob Haus has been the officer-in-charge since Stanga was placed on leave. He had been the city’s interim police chief between ex-chief Eric Doutt’s retirement Jan. 1 and Stanga’s hiring in February.

An Arnold resident who served in the Marine Corps and Army, Stanga has worked in policing for 12 years. He started as a part-time officer in Ford City in 2012 and worked part time in Manor Township. He joined the Armstrong County Sheriff’s Department full time in 2013 as a member of the narcotics enforcement team.

After a stint with the Aliquippa Police Department, where he attained the rank of patrol sergeant, he came aboard Arnold’s force, then moved on to Wilkinsburg for several years before rejoining Arnold as chief.