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Westmoreland County's top deputy sheriff found guilty of harassment

GREENSBURG, Pa. — The Westmoreland County top deputy sheriff was found guilty of harassment Tuesday.

>>>RELATED: Uncertainty surrounds sheriff's office as leaders face charges, suspensions

With tears in her eyes, Chief Deputy Patricia Fritz stood behind her attorney after being found guilty.

The judge said she believed the testimony that Fritz got physical with one deputy, and said insubordination does not justify her actions.

“I don’t agree with her decision. And I think that it’s unfortunate what’s occurring in Westmoreland County presently,” said Kuftic Horne, Fritz’s attorney.

Cpl. Steve Felder and another deputy were in the closed-door meeting with Fritz and both took the stand Tuesday.

Felder was acting as union president in the meeting and said things quickly escalated and Fritz became hostile and aggressive. He called her actions intimidating.

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The other deputy in the room said Felder just stood there.

Felder told the judge that's when he went to open the door, Fritz ran around and pushed him twice, poked him multiple times — and said, “sit down corporal, that’s an order.”

Sheriff Jonathan Held testified in Fritz’s defense and said he heard yelling, and claims he saw Fritz “trapped” behind the door.

Horne said she believes the accusations were politically motivated and are all too familiar in today’s political climate.

“Maybe it’s for political maybe it’s for personal reason that are willing to take action and do things against women in positions that they’re not willing and would never happen against a man,” Horne said.

Fritz will have to pay a couple hundred dollar fine and her attorney says she will appeal.

She remains barred from all county property despite being reinstated from suspension.

Channel 11 reached out to human resources and was told, nothing has changed and they do not have a comment regarding Fritz' standing with the sheriff’s office.

 

Cox Media Group

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