SEPTA Police Officer Placed On Leave Following Arrests In South Jersey
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A SEPTA Transit Police officer is in hot water after being charged with assault, burglary and theft.
Thirty-year-old SEPTA officer Steven Miele has been placed on leave following his latest arrest.
Earlier this year, Miele, a six-year veteran of the force, was arrested and charged with simple assault stemming from an incident in Mount Ephraim, New Jersey. On Monday, he was arrested again for burglary and theft following a domestic incident.
"We had moved that officer to an administrative position while he was being investigated," said SEPTA Chief of Police Thomas Nestel. "During that period of time that he was on administrative duty he subsequently, allegedly committed a burglary again in Mt Ephraim."
Nestel says it is unacceptable that one of his officers is allegedly involved in this kind of activity.
"It's disappointing," he said, "and it's embarrassing to us as an organization."
The criminal investigations related to these incidents are being handled by the Mount Ephraim Police Department.
Miele is currently on administrative leave. Nestel says the SEPTA Police Board of Inquiry will review the details of the incidents to determine the appropriate discipline.