Topline: A man who allegedly broke into a South Park Township fire department, and was found cooking with a tablecloth on his head, caused an estimated $1,000 in damages.
Published: April 16, 2023 8:00 am ET
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Christopher Starks. Mugshot provided by the Allegheny County Jail. Background photo credit: Victor Martinez/Pexels.
South Park Township, PA (PPP)— A man was found cooking with a tablecloth wrapped around his head after allegedly breaking into a South Park fire department.
Christopher Starks, a 45-year-old man from North Apollo, PA, was taken into custody after being found by officers who responded to a report of a burglary at the Library Volunteer Fire Department, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.
According to the complaint, Starks entered the building through an unlocked door and proceeded to ransack one of the offices, removing $80 from a ticket jar then leaving it next to the jar before smoking a cigar.
Starks then reportedly cooked food inside the fire department, leaving a large freezer door open which may have caused some of the food to spoil, and dumped food on the floor, says the complaint.
Starks was found by police cooking in the fire department’s kitchen with a tablecloth wrapped around his head, apparently to keep warm, the complaint said.
Starks allegedly told officers that he rode the trolley from the North Shore of Pittsburgh. They let him ride for free, he said. After getting off the trolley, he got cold and decided to break into the fire department, according to the complaint.
The fire department estimates its total loss at $1,000.
Name: Christopher Starks
Gender: Male
Age: 45
Agency: South Park Township Police Department
Court: Magisterial District Court 05-2-16
Docket Number: MJ-05216-CR-0000093-2023
Date Filed: March 24, 2023
Bail: $10,000 monetary
Confinement: Allegheny County Jail
Confinement Reason: Unable to post bail. Note: Bail was set to non-monetary on April 5.
Criminal Charges
- Burglary (Felony 1)
- Criminal trespass (Felony 3)
- Theft by unlawful taking (Misdemeanor 1)
- Criminal mischief (Misdemeanor 3)
Affidavit of Probable Cause
Your affiant is employed by the Twp of South Park as a police officer with 26 years of law enforcement experience.
On Friday March 24 2023 at approximately 0715 hours, South Park Police were dispatched to the Library Volunteer Fire Department at 6581 Library Road South Park PA 15129. The complainant, who is a member of the fire department reported that the building had been burglarized. The complainant arrived at the fire department, opened the door near the flagpole at the front of the building, which was unlocked. The complainant immediately noticed that the door to one of the offices was open, the lights were on and the filing cabinet drawers were open and the office was ransacked. The complainant immediately left the building, went to her car and called 911.
Your affiant arrived along with Officer Dugan and entered the building through the same door that the complainant had entered. Officers began a search of the building. Officers noticed that items were knocked over inside the building. The office mentioned earlier was ransacked. The burners were lit on the stove and someone appeared to be cooking food. Officers located the actor standing inside of the fire department’s social hall area. The white male actor had a white in color tablecloth wrapped around his head. The male actor was ordered to get on the floor, lying face down, but had to be ordered several times to do so, which he finally complied. The male actor was then taken into custody by handcuffing his hands behind his back. The male actor provided officers with his name and date of birth, advising us that he was from North Apollo, PA.
The actor, Christopher Starks was Mirandized once at the South Park Twp Police Station by Officer Dugan and agreed to speak to the officer. Starks advised that he rode the trolley from the North Shore of Pittsburgh and they let him ride for free. Starks said after getting off of the trolley and hanging out, he got cold, so he “busted” into the Library Fire Department.
It appears that Starks cooked food inside the fire department and ate it. He also ransacked one of the offices, removed $80.00 from a ticket jar, but left the money sitting next to the jar and smoked a cigar that he stole from inside. The fire department personnel advised that he left door open to a large freezer, which may have caused some of the food to spoil, ate food inside, dumped food on the floor and their total loss is estimated at $ 1,000.00.
Through officers investigation, it was determined after speaking to fire department personnel that the door that Starks had entered the building through was unlocked due to the lock being broken.
The fire department personnel also checked their video surveillance cameras and there is video of Starks entering the building and also being inside of the building. Based on the aforementioned facts listed within this complaint, your affiant is requesting that the defendant answer to the criminal charges listed within this complaint.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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A man who allegedly broke into a South Park Township fire department, and was found cooking with a tablecloth on his head, caused an estimated $1,000 in damages.
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Published: April 16, 2023 8:00 am ET
Christopher Starks. Mugshot provided by the Allegheny County Jail. Background photo credit: Victor Martinez/Pexels.
South Park Township, PA (PPP)— A man was found cooking with a tablecloth wrapped around his head after allegedly breaking into a South Park fire department.
Christopher Starks, a 45-year-old man from North Apollo, PA, was taken into custody after being found by officers who responded to a report of a burglary at the Library Volunteer Fire Department, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.
According to the complaint, Starks entered the building through an unlocked door and proceeded to ransack one of the offices, removing $80 from a ticket jar then leaving it next to the jar before smoking a cigar.
Starks then reportedly cooked food inside the fire department, leaving a large freezer door open which may have caused some of the food to spoil, and dumped food on the floor, says the complaint.
Starks was found by police cooking in the fire department’s kitchen with a tablecloth wrapped around his head, apparently to keep warm, the complaint said.
Starks allegedly told officers that he rode the trolley from the North Shore of Pittsburgh. They let him ride for free, he said. After getting off the trolley, he got cold and decided to break into the fire department, according to the complaint.
The fire department estimates its total loss at $1,000.
Name: Christopher Starks
Gender: Male
Age: 45
Agency: South Park Township Police Department
Court: Magisterial District Court 05-2-16
Docket Number: MJ-05216-CR-0000093-2023
Date Filed: March 24, 2023
Bail: $10,000 monetary
Confinement: Allegheny County Jail
Confinement Reason: Unable to post bail. Note: Bail was set to non-monetary on April 5.
Criminal Charges
- Burglary (Felony 1)
- Criminal trespass (Felony 3)
- Theft by unlawful taking (Misdemeanor 1)
- Criminal mischief (Misdemeanor 3)
Affidavit of Probable Cause
Your affiant is employed by the Twp of South Park as a police officer with 26 years of law enforcement experience.
On Friday March 24 2023 at approximately 0715 hours, South Park Police were dispatched to the Library Volunteer Fire Department at 6581 Library Road South Park PA 15129. The complainant, who is a member of the fire department reported that the building had been burglarized. The complainant arrived at the fire department, opened the door near the flagpole at the front of the building, which was unlocked. The complainant immediately noticed that the door to one of the offices was open, the lights were on and the filing cabinet drawers were open and the office was ransacked. The complainant immediately left the building, went to her car and called 911.
Your affiant arrived along with Officer Dugan and entered the building through the same door that the complainant had entered. Officers began a search of the building. Officers noticed that items were knocked over inside the building. The office mentioned earlier was ransacked. The burners were lit on the stove and someone appeared to be cooking food. Officers located the actor standing inside of the fire department’s social hall area. The white male actor had a white in color tablecloth wrapped around his head. The male actor was ordered to get on the floor, lying face down, but had to be ordered several times to do so, which he finally complied. The male actor was then taken into custody by handcuffing his hands behind his back. The male actor provided officers with his name and date of birth, advising us that he was from North Apollo, PA.
The actor, Christopher Starks was Mirandized once at the South Park Twp Police Station by Officer Dugan and agreed to speak to the officer. Starks advised that he rode the trolley from the North Shore of Pittsburgh and they let him ride for free. Starks said after getting off of the trolley and hanging out, he got cold, so he “busted” into the Library Fire Department.
It appears that Starks cooked food inside the fire department and ate it. He also ransacked one of the offices, removed $80.00 from a ticket jar, but left the money sitting next to the jar and smoked a cigar that he stole from inside. The fire department personnel advised that he left door open to a large freezer, which may have caused some of the food to spoil, ate food inside, dumped food on the floor and their total loss is estimated at $ 1,000.00.
Through officers investigation, it was determined after speaking to fire department personnel that the door that Starks had entered the building through was unlocked due to the lock being broken.
The fire department personnel also checked their video surveillance cameras and there is video of Starks entering the building and also being inside of the building. Based on the aforementioned facts listed within this complaint, your affiant is requesting that the defendant answer to the criminal charges listed within this complaint.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Tablecloth-wearing Culinary Bandit Leaves South Park Fire Department Kitchen in Shambles
A man who allegedly broke into a South Park Township fire department, and was found cooking with a tablecloth on his head, caused an estimated $1,000 in damages.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: April 16, 2023 8:00 am ET
Christopher Starks. Mugshot provided by the Allegheny County Jail. Background photo credit: Victor Martinez/Pexels.
South Park Township, PA (PPP)— A man was found cooking with a tablecloth wrapped around his head after allegedly breaking into a South Park fire department.
Christopher Starks, a 45-year-old man from North Apollo, PA, was taken into custody after being found by officers who responded to a report of a burglary at the Library Volunteer Fire Department, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.
According to the complaint, Starks entered the building through an unlocked door and proceeded to ransack one of the offices, removing $80 from a ticket jar then leaving it next to the jar before smoking a cigar.
Starks then reportedly cooked food inside the fire department, leaving a large freezer door open which may have caused some of the food to spoil, and dumped food on the floor, says the complaint.
Starks was found by police cooking in the fire department’s kitchen with a tablecloth wrapped around his head, apparently to keep warm, the complaint said.
Starks allegedly told officers that he rode the trolley from the North Shore of Pittsburgh. They let him ride for free, he said. After getting off the trolley, he got cold and decided to break into the fire department, according to the complaint.
The fire department estimates its total loss at $1,000.
Name: Christopher Starks
Gender: Male
Age: 45
Agency: South Park Township Police Department
Court: Magisterial District Court 05-2-16
Docket Number: MJ-05216-CR-0000093-2023
Date Filed: March 24, 2023
Bail: $10,000 monetary
Confinement: Allegheny County Jail
Confinement Reason: Unable to post bail. Note: Bail was set to non-monetary on April 5.
Criminal Charges
- Burglary (Felony 1)
- Criminal trespass (Felony 3)
- Theft by unlawful taking (Misdemeanor 1)
- Criminal mischief (Misdemeanor 3)
Affidavit of Probable Cause
Your affiant is employed by the Twp of South Park as a police officer with 26 years of law enforcement experience.
On Friday March 24 2023 at approximately 0715 hours, South Park Police were dispatched to the Library Volunteer Fire Department at 6581 Library Road South Park PA 15129. The complainant, who is a member of the fire department reported that the building had been burglarized. The complainant arrived at the fire department, opened the door near the flagpole at the front of the building, which was unlocked. The complainant immediately noticed that the door to one of the offices was open, the lights were on and the filing cabinet drawers were open and the office was ransacked. The complainant immediately left the building, went to her car and called 911.
Your affiant arrived along with Officer Dugan and entered the building through the same door that the complainant had entered. Officers began a search of the building. Officers noticed that items were knocked over inside the building. The office mentioned earlier was ransacked. The burners were lit on the stove and someone appeared to be cooking food. Officers located the actor standing inside of the fire department’s social hall area. The white male actor had a white in color tablecloth wrapped around his head. The male actor was ordered to get on the floor, lying face down, but had to be ordered several times to do so, which he finally complied. The male actor was then taken into custody by handcuffing his hands behind his back. The male actor provided officers with his name and date of birth, advising us that he was from North Apollo, PA.
The actor, Christopher Starks was Mirandized once at the South Park Twp Police Station by Officer Dugan and agreed to speak to the officer. Starks advised that he rode the trolley from the North Shore of Pittsburgh and they let him ride for free. Starks said after getting off of the trolley and hanging out, he got cold, so he “busted” into the Library Fire Department.
It appears that Starks cooked food inside the fire department and ate it. He also ransacked one of the offices, removed $80.00 from a ticket jar, but left the money sitting next to the jar and smoked a cigar that he stole from inside. The fire department personnel advised that he left door open to a large freezer, which may have caused some of the food to spoil, ate food inside, dumped food on the floor and their total loss is estimated at $ 1,000.00.
Through officers investigation, it was determined after speaking to fire department personnel that the door that Starks had entered the building through was unlocked due to the lock being broken.
The fire department personnel also checked their video surveillance cameras and there is video of Starks entering the building and also being inside of the building. Based on the aforementioned facts listed within this complaint, your affiant is requesting that the defendant answer to the criminal charges listed within this complaint.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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