Submitted
A suspended Morrisville Police Officer had his charges waived onto the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday in district court during a preliminary hearing.
Michael Pitcher, 40, of Pipersville, charged with unlawful use of police computers, official oppression, terroristic threats, and harassment is now scheduled to appear for official arraignment in Doylestown on September 20 at 12 p.m.
Pitcher is alleged to have harassed a Lower Makefield Township couple in April of this year in response to an interaction on a roadway in Lower Makefield.
According to the affidavit of probable cause Pitcher, threatened and harassed the couple after using Morrisville Police computers to look up the couple’s phone number on a law enforcement used website. Pitcher, court records say, made intimidating calls to the couples landline phone number in which he is alleged to say (have said), “You better have camera at your house as I will be destroying your property, especially your Porsche.”
Investigators from the Lower Makefield Township Police and The Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office subsequently allege Pitcher used a phone call “spoofing” application to make the threatening calls.
Pitcher is currently out on bail and was officially suspended with pay from the police department in a unanimous vote by council on July 15.
Prior to that July council meeting, Police Chief George McClay said Pitcher’s continued employment is undergoing a process separate and apart from the criminal proceedings and would be taking place involving borough officials.
McClay explained that there is a three-step which will also include a ‘written report” to be completed by the Mayor based upon an interview Pitcher was expected to take part in.
During the July council meeting, McClay asked for an additional police officer to be hired because the arrest of Pitcher created a staffing issue in light of Pitcher’s impending suspension. Council then approved the hiring of a part time officer at that session.
Morrisville officials would not provide on the record comment as to where the administrative process stands for Pitcher
Councilpersons have said they’ve been directed not to make public comments about the legal processes involved the police officers case until it is officially adjudicated.
On Tuesday evening, in a brief call, Chief McClay said he was “very disappointed” in Pitcher.
“This is not the way we conduct ourselves at the Morrisville Police Department during the course of business.”
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