EASTON, Pa. — Stockertown's former police chief has been charged with impersonating a public servant and other crimes, the Northampton County District Attorney's office said Thursday.
Former Chief Eric Schwab also was charged with violating visual and audible signals on emergency vehicles, District Attorney Terry Houck said in the release.
- Former Stockertown Police Chief Eric Schwab is facing other charges after being charged Monday with forgery
- Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck announced Thursday the new charges pertaining to impersonation of a public servant
- Schwab's bail has been set at $15,000 unsecured
Schwab had been charged Monday with felony forgery, including unsworn falsification to authorities, tampering with records or identification along with other related charges.
Schwab was released on $15,000 unsecured bail, meaning he did not have to provide money to secure his release.
According to the release, at 5:15 p.m. a witness said Schwab, 44, of Nazareth, was driving a black Ford Explorer with Fraternal Order of Police plates when he pulled out in front of their vehicle on Northwood Avenue.
The release says Schwab's vehicle traveled 10 to 15 miles per hour below the speed limit before taking a right onto Van Buren Road.
Witness follows Explorer
The witness told authorities they made the same right in the direction of the Schwab's vehicle.
The release said Schwab's Explorer stopped suddenly and flashed red, blue and white lights, and the witness pulled his car around the Explorer and to the edge of the road.
You’re following too closely, you’re lucky I’m off duty right now or I would write you a ticket.Witness recounting statement from former Stockertown Police Chief Eric Schwab
Schwab then pulled next to the witness’ vehicle and said, “You’re following too closely, you’re lucky I’m off duty right now or I would write you a ticket,” the testimony states.
The witness said he recognized the driver of the Explorer as the former Stockertown police chief.
After a detective investigation and a search warrant placed on Schwab’s vehicle, personnel found emergency lights and a siren in the vehicle.
Schwab has said he “slammed on his brakes because a vehicle was following him too closely,” according to the release.
He said he never activated his lights, but he told the witness he was “off duty and would write him a ticket.”
Schwab told detectives he “had red and blue lights inside the vehicle and is no longer employed as a police officer.”
Following the viewing of video surveillance by detectives from cameras at Van Buren Road and Fox Hill Road in Easton, it was confirmed that the Explorer pulled to the shoulder of the road with lights flashing in the rear tailgate window, the release says.
Bail has been set at $15,000 unsecured.
