COUDERSPORT -ðThe Austin Borough police chief resigned Tuesday
and was remanded to Potter County Jail after allegedly stealing two
pounds of marijuana from the Austin Borough Police station and then
reporting it stolen during a burglary last Thursday.

Shawn Henry Foringer, 26, of Austin, who was suspended from his
police chief position Monday, was charged Tuesday with a violation
of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, a
first-degree felony; theft by unlawful taking or disposition, a
third-degree felony; and false reports to law enforcement
authorities, a third-degree misdemeanor, according to
Coudersport-based state police Cpl. Michael Murray.

Specifically, Foringer allegedly took two pounds of marijuana
belonging to the Austin Borough Police Department. He then reported
to the state police that the marijuana was taken during a burglary
that did not actually happen, according to the criminal
complaint.

“None of it made any sense. There was no forced entry,” Murray
said.

Murray said Foringer reported the burglary to Austin Borough
Mayor Albert Gledhill Wednesday night. The burglary was then
reported to the state police Thursday.

Gledhill declined to comment on the matter Tuesday night, other
than to confirm that the alleged burglary was reported to him by
Foringer Wednesday.

Austin Borough Council President Mark Jeffers was not
immediately available for comment Tuesday night.

Austin, located in Potter County, has a population of just over
600 people.

It was not clear how the police department obtained the
marijuana.

After the initial burglary report, police issued a release at
that time reporting someone had broken into and stole from the
Austin Borough Building and Austin Borough Police Station – one
building which houses both the borough maintenance department and
the police station.

What exactly was stolen from the building was not reported at
that time, police said, “so as not to hinder the investigation.”
The Austin Borough Police Department referred the investigation to
the state police to “eliminate any conflicts of interest,” police
said in that report.

Although the investigation is ongoing, Murray said, police now
think Foringer probably stole the marijuana on July 12. He said he
could not release any further details regarding the current
investigation Tuesday night, referring further questions to Trooper
Scott Henry, a public information officer.

The investigation is being conducted in conjunction with the
Potter County District Attorney’s office, and charges were filed
with the approval of District Attorney Jeff Leber, police said.

Foringer was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Justice
Annette Easton and remanded to Potter County Jail in lieu of
$50,000 bail. Murray said Foringer was still in jail as of Tuesday
night.