Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Detectives from the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office descended upon the home of a Falls Township Police Department employee and a man she lived with the day after it was damaged by a fire.
Bucks County Detectives with a search warrant arrived to 211 Centre Street around 12:30 p.m. Friday. Two crews from PECO and the Falls fire marshal also showed up at the scene.
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The investigators and the PECO workers inspected an electric meter on the side of the fire-damaged home. They were also spotted inspecting the rear near a utility pole behind a two-story garage structure at the home. After using a forceable entry tool from the fire marshal’s office, the garage was opened and detectives gained access to the two-story structure.
According to county tax records, the home has been owned by Faith Friedhofer and Donald Watson since 1986. Friedhofer is an administrative assistant for Falls police Chief William Wilcox and Watson works as a pool installer for a company whose business address is listed at 211 Centre Street.
Friedhofer and Watson could not be reached for comment at a phone number found online.
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Watson is said by multiple sources to be the focus of the investigation, but no charges have been filed as of Friday afternoon and authorities are not speaking as to why Watson is the focus.
Multiple police and township sources confirmed to LevittownNow.com that the investigation centers on possible theft of electric service from PECO lines. Possible unauthorized power connections were reportedly found as firefighters were working to put out flames Thursday.
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A copy of the search warrant was not immediately available for review to determine what police went to the house to try to find.
In 2012, Watson pleaded guilty to stealing copper from a closed furniture store. The theft happened in 2011 and caused thousands of dollars of damage to the store in Falls. Watson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to parole and probation.
The fire at the home was reported around 7:30 a.m. Thursday and started in the area of the heat pump and spread into the attic. The residents and dogs all escaped without injury.
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Most neighbors who were home Friday stated they didn’t want to speak on the record about the investigation following the fire. One neighbor did note PECO workers focusing Thursday on the utility pole behind 211 Centre Street.
Investigators at the house Friday declined comment on the investigation.
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A message left for Wilcox was not immediately returned Friday afternoon.
