July 12--State police arrested Apollo's police chief today on charges that he stole and sold two guns from a residence, two police guns and other equipment purchased with the borough's grant money and pocketed the proceeds.
Paul Breznican Jr. turned himself in to state police and was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James Andring on felony counts of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and a misdemeanor charge of official oppression.
In an affidavit, police said Mr. Breznican illegally confiscated a shotgun and rifle on a suicide check in 2006 and sold the guns to a dealer in Saltsburg 10 days later.
He is also accused of selling one of the department's AR-15 rifles -- purchased with federal grant money -- and amunition to a Spring Church man two years ago and a .22-caliber rifle, a tear gas gun and a tear gas baton to a dealer in Apollo.
The complaint also states that the Apollo borough council said Mr. Breznican failed to return two items valued at $1,500 to the borough when he was asked to return all police equipment. The criminal complaint lists the items as a dog bite suit and a bail remote door opener.
Mr. Breznican is being held at the Armstrong County Jail on $25,000 bond.
Copyright 2012 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
