A Doylestown roofing contractor is behind bars after police accused him of pocketing more than $38,000 in insurance funds meant for a homeowner’s repairs.
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Eric Small, 39, the owner of EMS Roofing, was arrested by Bensalem Township police earlier this month.
Small was preliminarily arraigned before District Judge Michael Gallagher on charges of theft by deception and receiving advance payment for services and failing to perform.
Police said they took a November 2025 report from an upset homeowner who stated that his home’s roof remained unrepaired after a July 14, 2024, wind and rain storm. The storm caused roof damage that subsequently led to interior water damage.
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According to court papers filed by police, the resident contracted EMS Roofing the day after filing the insurance claim and signed a contract with a public adjuster recommended by Small to handle the claim.
An insurance contractor inspected the roof in late July 2025, and the insurance company issued a $43,601.45 check to the public adjuster to settle claims for both the roof and interior damage before the end of August 2025, police said.
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The public adjuster then issued a check for $38,369.28 made out to EMS Roofing and the resident, police said.
The adjuster later withdrew from the case after disputes with Small, police said.
On Sept. 16, 2025, Small’s company performed testing on the roof and reported finding additional damage beyond the original estimate, which led to Small issuing a letter to the insurance company stating a full replacement was needed, police said.
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Small deposited the $38,369.28 check into his bank account that same day, police said.
Investigators stated Small was the only person to endorse the check, and the resident was never informed that the funds had been issued.
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Small never performed the roof repairs after cashing the check, and the homeowner has been unable to complete interior repairs, police said.
During an November 2025 interview with a detective, Small admitted to depositing the check but alleged that a business partner had misused the funds for unauthorized expenses, police said.
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A search warrant executed for Small’s bank account late last year confirmed that he had deposited the check, police said.
Small has been held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility since Aug. 4 on 10 percent of $400,000 bail.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
