Former Youngwood worker accused of intentionally damaging street sweeper, truck
Share this post:
A longtime Youngwood street department worker was arrested Thursday by Westmoreland County detectives on charges he intentionally damaged a street sweeper and dump truck by moving them into waist-deep water inside the borough garage during a flood last September.
Clifford A. Long, 59, was suspended last September when the criminal probe started, but chose to retire “about a week later in October,” according to borough council President Scott E. Palmquist.
“I have no idea why he did it,” Palmquist said.
Detective Randy Gardner said in court documents filed before District Judge Anthony Bompiani that Long “just shrugged” when borough officials initially asked Long why he did it.
Long was arraigned on two counts each of criminal mischief and institutional vandalism in connection with the incident. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bond.
Borough Manager Diane Schaefer deferred comment to borough Solicitor Krisha Dimascio of Pittsburgh, who did not immediately return inquiries seeking comment.
Gardner reported in court documents that the 2004 GMC street sweeper was valued at about $4,500 and the 1995 Ford dump truck had a value of close to $2,500 .
According to Gardner, the borough inquiry began after public works leader Austin Erhard went to the borough’s garage to evacuate the equipment the afternoon of Sept. 10 due to the rising floodwaters caused by heavy rain.
“(Erhard) stated that once there, he saw the street sweeper parked by the salt bins in the deep water, and it had not been there when he started work in the morning. He also stated that he saw the Ford F-450 also parked in deep water, and it was not there when he came to work,” Gardner wrote.
The following day, Erhard told Gardner that Long told him that he had moved both vehicles into the floodwater “and put water in the motors to make it look like the floodwaters covered them.”
Gardner said Thursday that the borough has not been able to replace the equipment, which has caused “a substantial interruption of public services.”
Palmquist reported that the matter has been turned over to the municipality’s insurance carrier.
“It’s in their hands … and I cannot tell you an answer when the equipment can be replaced. It’s in the insurance company’s hands right now and we’re awaiting word,” Palmquist said. “It has created a hardship for us.”
Messages left on Long’s telephone seeking comment were not returned. An attorney for Long was not listed in court papers.
Long’s preliminary hearing is scheduled June 11.