Police Chief to Plead Guilty After Allegedly Threatening 'Fake Arrest' Over Negative Facebook Post

Police Chief Brian Buglio from Pennsylvania agreed to plead guilty to a civil rights violation after he allegedly threatened to make up a "fake arrest" against a private citizen in retaliation for negative comments made about him online.

The individual had posted critical comments about Buglio and the West Hazelton Police Department after they had allegedly responded slowly to make an arrest in a case that involved him, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which announced the charges Friday.

Local station WNEP identified the individual as Paul DeLorenzo, who reportedly also accused the chief of "committing a violent crime" in social media posts.

DeLorenzo told WNEP that Buglio "called me, left me a voicemail, and said that he was going to arrest me for a crime that was being investigated for something I've never even done or had any part of."

DeLorenzo said the chief told him, "Well, you like to post fake things and fake stories about me so, I could make up a fake arrest and put you in jail."

A month later, the two met at the police department, where, the federal charging document states, Buglio "threatened to pursue felony criminal charges" against DeLorenzo in retaliation for the social media posts. The document stated that "during the meeting, Brian Buglio acknowledged that the threatened felony charges lacked merit."

DeLorenzo agreed to take down his posts, and the two shook hands in agreement. DeLorenzo later reported the story to the FBI.

On April 22, Buglio signed a plea agreement that stated he would resign from his position after 25 years of working for the West Hazelton Police Department. He was charged "in a criminal information on May 27, 2021, with a civil rights violation," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The maximum sentence for a civil rights violation is a year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine; however, the statement from the Department of Justice indicated that Buglio's sentence would most likely not reach that full extent.

West Hazelton resident Ronda Jones said that she went to high school with Buglio, and told WNEP, "The fact is, it's Facebook. You don't always believe what you say. I mean, if he was sticking up for himself, he was sticking up for himself."

Another resident said to WNEP that DeLorenzo was posting his opinion, and the chief had no authority to attempt to govern it.

Newsweek reached out to the West Hazelton Police Department for additional comment.