UPDATE: Some Charges Dropped Against Baldwin Fireman Accused of Bilking Auto Repair Shop
Several felony theft charges have been dropped against Matthew Jankowski.
UPDATE: Jankowski will have a non-jury trial at the Allegheny County Courthouse starting on March 5 (continued to May 1).
...
Several charges have been dropped against a mechanic accused of ripping off the Collier Township auto repair shop where he worked.
Investigators withdrew three felony theft charges and four misdemeanor theft counts against Matthew R. Jankowski, 30, of Whitehall Borough, before his Oct. 15 preliminary hearing.
However, Jankowski, who once served as the vice president of Baldwin Independent Fire Company No. 1, waived to trial three felony charges of theft by deception at his preliminary hearing before District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet.
Collier Township police alleged that Jankowski, a former assistant manager at Mr. Tire Auto Service Center on Washington Pike, stole nearly $50,000 worth of parts and labor from Mr. Tire during a five-month period from December 2011 to May 2012. Upon his arrest in August, police said that workers at Mr. Tire discovered that he was voiding invoices after customers had paid him for repairs.
Collier police Chief Tom Devin said that it's not unusual for investigators to withdraw some charges in order to pursue other counts. However, Devin could not say what exactly prompted investigators to withdraw seven of the 10 theft charges.
Jankowski is free on $10,000 bond. His formal arraignment on the three remaining theft charges is scheduled for Dec. 3 at the Allegheny County Courthouse.
This article originally appeared on the ChartiersValley Patch.
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In This article
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District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet
295 Millers Run Rd, Bridgeville, PA -
Mr. Tire Auto Service Centers
1134 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA -
Borough of Whitehall Municipal Complex (Administrative Offices and Outdoor Recreation)
100 Borough Park Dr, Pittsburgh, PA -
Baldwin Independent Fire Company No. 1
3049 Churchview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA -
Collier Township Police Department
2418 Hilltop Rd, Presto, PA -
cc
9:51 am on Sunday, October 21, 2012
It is a shame that someone that served as Vice President of Baldwin's Fire Dept. I hope Baldwin Fire Dept goes over their records for the Fire Dept to make sure more money wasn't stolen there. This is the second time someone from Baldwin Fire Dept was busted for stealing.
Robert Edward Healy, III
9:52 am on Sunday, October 21, 2012
What was the first time, cc? The Becks Run incident?
cc
11:43 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
Sorry Bob, i was talking about the becks run fire dept. it just bothers me that people can steal from a dept that that everyone in the neighbor hood supports, our tax dollar supports too. I've been doing 80 hours of work as we got 2 out on vacations and need sleep. hope you have a great day.
Robert Edward Healy, III
11:46 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
You have a great day, as well.
Z
9:06 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
CC - Once again you are wrong about this issue This has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the Baldwin Fire Dept so you saying that he was stealing from the fire dept is completely wrong! and btw he was never ever involved in stealing money from the fire dept and everything was checked and as everyone said nothing was taking so thats a dead issue, and 2nd he didnt "steal" money for the store
cc
11:44 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
Z, Matthew was in the past Vice President of in Baldwin Independent Fire Dept and he got caught stealing at his job. How do we know he didn't steal from the fire dept also. I hope they go over the records when he was Vice President of the Fire Dept to see if any monies were taken. I was brought up with morals about stealing, and everyone hits on rough times, but you don't steal.
Robert Edward Healy, III
9:16 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
Please note, cc, that there is more than one fire department in Baldwin Borough.
cc
11:44 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
Bob I know we have 2 fire depts in Baldwin. It is a shame that two people that were in authority and and previous authority were caught stealing. I just hope that all fire dept in Baldwin/Whitehall area goes over their records to make sure that all money is there. We as citizens support our fire dept along with our tax dollars and it is a shame that money that is there for equipment, insurance and what they need is taken and not used for what it is suppose to be used for. To protect the communities.
Robert Edward Healy, III
11:45 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
There are four, but only three are in operation right now.
Truth Hurtz
10:14 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Well, three of the felony charges have been dropped. How about not commenting on these issues until the outcome of the case. Otherwise, there may be a lot of people with egg on their faces. I'm sure that if Mr. Jankowski is found not guilty, however, nobody including The Patch will be willing to apologize for dragging the name of a whole fire department through the mud.
driver
11:06 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
from what i understand Jankowski has other charges pending for receiving stolen property filed by Baldwin Borough
Robert Edward Healy, III
12:50 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
UPDATE: Jankowski will have a non-jury trial for the Collier Township charges at the Allegheny County Courthouse starting on March 5.
Yergi Maravichia
4:38 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
I don't know how a man could do such?!? Fire departments are necessary and chiefs are necessary and accountability is necessary!! In my town in Slovakia we would have threw him in the goat pen and sprayed him with water until he admitted his wrong doings. Miclavik stole 200 euros from a local business and we made him walk in the town parade dressed as a goat handing out Euro chocolate coins until he asked for forgiveness. Everyone called him Eurogoat afterwards.
Yergi
NE12Ukid
4:37 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
Matthew R. Jankowski, 30, of Whitehall Borough
cc
9:38 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
Matthew Ryan Jankowski is a Baldwin Borough firefighter and served as Vice President there. He also grew up in Baldwin Borough and most know what type of people came out of Baldwin Borough.
Marge
8:55 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
What a scumbag. How is this guy still a fireman? Wouldn't trust him with my life. If he steals from the place that puts the bread on his family table, who is to say that he wouldn't steal from other places like the fire department? Get him out of there.
Lisa
1:49 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
"Wouldn't trust him with my life." So you're saying that if your house was on fire, and he showed up to help, you would tell him to just move along? I have a hard time believing that.
Also, "most know what type of people came out of Baldwin Borough". As I stated in a previous post, I live in Baldwin Borough, and I am offended. Please do a Google search of some local psychologists/psychiatrists/mental health counselors and seek some much-needed counseling.
Sandra
11:08 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Me too Lisa. I grew up and currently live in Baldwin. I'm also offended.
Margaret French
12:25 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Don't forget now, these are the ones (meaning any fire dept-who can we trust!?) who want lock boxes on businesses. Right cc? This is why I agree with cc about the lock boxes.
cc
9:33 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Margaret, I totally agree with you and if my business was in Baldwin, you bet I wouldn't let them put one of these boxes on my business. People would be coming into their businesses and finding things missing (stolen). To many stories out there where fireman, police, EMT have gone into businesses for their own gain.
Now when you call the Baldwin Police Dept you have to now worry about them shooting each other out on your front lawn.
Danny
12:44 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
@cc, you are so irresponsible in your comments. You make me, and alot of others, sick with your statements. Its a good thing we are not talking face to face!
cc
12:03 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Danny go google those lock boxes and see how many business were broken into by people in authority that had keys all over the United States.
NE12Ukid
3:30 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
..."and if my business was in Baldwin..."
It's NOT, so give it a rest.
20 Year Resident of Baldwin/Whitehall
12:26 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
There are very critical people commenting here. The negativity is toxic. God bless the police, the firefighters, and the EMS...they make considerably less money for risking their lives than people make in other, less dangerous occupations. We take them for granted and on this thread, they are consistently ridiculed. Shame on you!
Watcher
3:50 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Shame on us? Not saying there are no good safety workers out there, but there is quite A few out there who are less than stellar.
20 Year Resident of Baldwin/Whitehall
1:40 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
So you blanketly condemn and ridicule all for the sins of the few? Yes, SHAME ON YOU!
Margaret French
8:13 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The mayor of Pittsburgh just fired Nate Haper, the police chief, for his crooked dealings. Like I said, who can you REALLY trust?
Robert Edward Healy, III
10:28 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
I believe that Nate Harper actually resigned.
old man
10:27 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
The crime this man is charged with occured at his place of employment, the point that he is or was a member of Baldwin F.D. Has absolutely no bearing in the crime that was commited.
Margaret French
1:18 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Bob, from what I heard on the news he was "asked to resign." As far as I am concerned, if a person is asked to resign it is the same as a nice way of saying "you're fired." JMHO
Megan
11:08 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
CC: Where do you live? Is this place crime free? Do you not think that things happen everywhere? And what kind of people come out Baldwin? Please explain...I'm a well educated person out of Baldwin. Though I do not agree with what this initial story is about and I think that what happened was wrong given he is found guilty, it has nothing to do with police, EMS, or firefighters. I personally take offense to your negativity considering I have someone in the fire department that if your house or business was on fire would be there in a heartbeat without thinking about it. Just because he is a firefighter doesn't mean they are all bad nor do things that are wrong. Things happen in the post office, hospitals, restaurants...you can't categorize all people because of one person!!
Robert Edward Healy, III
5:42 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Jankowski's non-jury trial has been continued to May 1.