Judge Orders Ex-Cop to Reimburse Department's Comp Carrier $76K

Friday, October 21, 2016 | 0

After pleading guilty to filing a false police report, a former Pennsylvania police officer must reimburse $76,000 to her employer's workers' compensation carrier.

Former West Penn Township police Officer Melissa Ruch reported in September 2015 that she had an altercation with a man after pulling him over, according to the Pottsville Republican-Herald. She was found at the bottom of an embankment, saying she did not remember how she got there.

A helicopter airlifted her to the hospital while police searched for the attacker. She later filed a report naming the attacker, saying she had fired her Taser at him during the altercation. Police who investigated the incident said it appeared she had made it up.

On Wednesday, Ruch pleaded guilty in Schuylkill County Court to filing a false report. A judge sentenced her to one year of probation and ordered her to pay restitution of $76,074.80 to Amerihealth Casualty, the Police Department's workers' compensation carrier, and $5,683 to the State Police crime laboratory in Harrisburg.

No longer with the department, Ruch currently works as an emergency medical technician.