STRATEGIC PARTNERS
March 13, 2003
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- A Department of Public Works snow plow driver is back on the job after allegedly plowing into an ATM and trying to hide it from police -- despite leaving behind a trail of evidence that included parts of his plow and a pile of salt.
According to Pittsburgh's WTAE, National City employees found the ATM destroyed when they reported to work on Feb. 5.
Within hours, police pinned it on Public Works employee Bill Staude.
Authorities say when Staude came through the area, his eight-ton combination salt truck and plow took out a canopy and demolished the ATM. In his haste to get out, he allegedly ran over some shrubs and then went down a lawn, back out onto the street.
Police were able to solve the case pretty quickly when they found a piece of Staude's truck lying on the street, along with a pile of salt.
According to the police report, Staude told his supervisor he was sick and went home shortly after hitting the ATM. Police caught up with him 12 hours later. Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Bill Joyce told WTAE that Staude admitted taking out the ATM.
The matter was being handled internally, and no charges were filed, Joyce said. Staude was suspended for five days.
ATM damage estimates range from $20,000 to $30,000.
