PITTSBURGH, PA -- A Pittsburgh firefighter will spend three years on probation for stealing from colleagues who were drawn away from the fire station by false alarms he phoned in.
Thirty-two-year-old Vincent Manzanella says he was addicted to painkillers and stole the money to buy heroin and crack cocaine that he eventually started using as a result.
Allegheny County prosecutors says Manzanella knew how to include specific details when he called 911 that would result in all trucks and firefighters leaving the station where he stole the money in April 2009. Manzanella was on workers' comp at the time, but had a pass key.
His attorney said the job injury led to the addiction to the painkillers and, eventually, the other drugs.
Manzanella pleaded guilty and was sentenced Thursday.
WOW... 3 years probation. Lets see here 1) drug charges, 2) theft, 3) false reporting of fire.... that just does not sound right. I wonder if he will be getting treatment before going back on the job or if he will be fired? Would like to hear the rest of the plea agreement.