Berks County detectives are investigating two West Reading police sergeants for allegedly stunning fellow officers, a relative and others with their department-issued Tasers, officials confirmed Thursday.
Matthew R. Beighley and Ryan Phillips had been suspended and are under investigation for improperly stunning people, said Joseph A. Brown, president of the Berks County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 71 and a borough detective.
Police department records show Beighley and Phillips were suspended with pay April 26 and returned to duty Thursday. Brown called the incidents embarrassing to the department and all police.
Daniel P. Emkey, a Reading attorney representing borough Officer Chad T. Marks, said Beighley approached Marks from behind and stunned Marks in the buttocks as he was talking to a borough employee in borough hall in late March or early April.
Marks immediately reported the incident to another sergeant, who told Chief Edward C. Fabriziani, officials said. When Fabriziani took no action, Marks filed a written report with Fabriziani and Brown. Brown and Fabriziani took the matter to the district attorney's office May 2, officials said.
Marks declined comment and referred questions to Emkey.
"They got 2½ months of paid vacation and now Chad Marks has to resume working in that environment," Emkey said.
Officials said Beighley also allegedly stunned a family member in the chest.
During a 2010 Halloween party in Phillips' house, officials said, Phillips allegedly stunned Beighley and a woman, and Beighley stunned another officer and a woman at the same party. Officials said videos of some of the incidents were posted on YouTube until investigators seized copies of the videos and had them removed from the site.
District Attorney John T. Adams confirmed county detectives are investigating the incidents and that they have given their 60-page report to Fabriziani, Mayor Shane J. Keller and borough Solicitor Daniel P. Becker.
Fabriziani, Keller and Becker were unavailable. Beighley and Phillips could not be reached for comment.
Chief County Detective Michael J. Gombar said the investigation continues.
"We are investigating incidents of possible criminal wrongdoing within the ranks of the West Reading Police Department," Gombar said. "We are not an internal affairs unit. Our detectives investigate allegations of criminal acts that violate the state crimes code."
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Cops, what a bunch of jokers! Har, har . . . must have been real funny watching their pals thrash around with a TASER probe in their asses!
I wonder how it is that these Cops were able to muscle down the YouTube videos?
Phillips should be fired. He is a two bit cop,that thinks he is Jow cop of the week, with an ager management problem.
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