A former Foster Township police officer was charged with falsely
reporting the theft of guns he claimed were stolen from his truck,
then selling two of them himself.

Todd Terry McClain, 31, of 65 Oxford St. was charged with making
false reports to law enforcement authorities, a third-degree
misdemeanor. The charges were filed Tuesday in Magisterial District
Judge Richard Luther’s office.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, McClain reported
on Feb. 22 to Foster Township Police Chief Jeff Wolbert and Officer
Tom Munn that the side rear window of McClain’s truck was broken
and four guns were stolen from the back seat of the truck, that had
been parked in the township building parking lot overnight.

Those items reported stolen were a Remington Model 700 30-06
rifle with scope and see through sights; Remington Model 1200
12-gauge pump shotgun; Winchester Model 1300-gauge pump shotgun;
and a Winchester Model 189430-30 lever action rifle. McClain said
two of the guns had sentimental value because they were given to
him by his grandfather. However, he was not able to produce serial
numbers for any of the firearms, the affidavit said.

Munn and Wolbert noted “several details concerning the
plausibility of the events of the theft as described by (McClain).
Additionally, the issue of insurance arose at the time the theft
was reported.”

Then, during an interview with McKean County Detective Gerald
Okerlund on March 9, McClain allegedly said three guns were stolen
– two rifles and a shotgun – and the 30-06 rifle and shotgun were
given to him by his grandfather. Okerlund then found out that
McClain sold several firearms to McKean County E-sales.

After speaking with the owner, R. Perry Burdick, Okerlund
learned that McClain sold six firearms, including two Winchester
Model 1200 12-gauge shotguns and a Remington Model 700 30-06, on
March 1. Okerlund then took the two shotguns and Remington Model
into evidence because they matched the descriptions of the firearms
McClain claimed were stolen.

At this point, the township police and Okerlund, concerned with
the validity of the report, turned over the investigation to the
Pennsylvania State Police, the affidavit said.

A state police trooper then interviewed McClain on April 26 when
he reported four guns were stolen. When the trooper asked McClain
to provide serial numbers for these guns, he was told “he could
probably provide a couple of serial numbers.” He also said he had
gotten all of the guns – with the exception of the Remington
shotgun – from his grandfather.

McClain also allegedly failed to contact the trooper with any
description or serial numbers for the firearms.

The trooper did confirm that McClain’s grandfather owned a
Winchester 12-gauge shotgun and Remington Model 700 30-06 rifle
that were given to McClain. The grandfather also bought a Remington
Model 700 rifle. An E-trace through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives confirmed the purchase of firearms by
McClain’s grandfather as well as the sale of firearms to McKean
County E-sales.

McClain will be arraigned at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 8.

McClain has filed a civil lawsuit against Jeff Wolbert, officers
Munn and Mike Ward and the township supervisors alleging that he
was wrongfully fired from his job. As of Wednesday afternoon, no
answer had been filed in the case, according to the McKean County
Prothonotary’s office.

Munn said Wednesday afternoon the case is in the attorneys’
hands and he had no comment.