Braddock Police Officer and Plum Resident Faces Burglary, Narcotics Charges

A Braddock police officer and Plum resident was arrested on Tuesday for several burglary and narcotics incidents dating back to March 2010.

Pennsylvania State Police charged James Jeremiah Scuffle, 29, with manufacturing, delivering or possessing a controlled substance; burglary; theft from a motor vehicle; conspiracy to commit theft; criminal mischief; criminal trespass; false insurance claim; false reports; obstructing the law; two counts of theft; two counts of receiving stolen property; and two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Police accuse Scuffle of being involved in the following incidents:

• Stealing a motorcycle trailer in New Alexandria Borough on March 22, 2010.
• Burglarizing the clubhouse of the Laurel Highlands Campground on April 20, 2011, where a witness spotted his vehicle.
• Falsely reporting the theft of his 2002 Dodge Durango to the on April 21, 2011. He also filed an insurance claim.
• Attempting to break in to cars in the area of Tartan and Glengary Court in Plum on May 14, 2011. After a resident asked for his identification, Scuffle fled.
• Giving several hundreds of dollars worth of crack-cocaine from the Braddock Police Department to an unknown individual on July 13, 2011. Scuffle is accused of using the drugs to pay the individual so she wouldn't cooperate with state police investigators.

Scuffle was arraigned before District Justice Roger Eckels this afternoon. A preliminary hearing before District Judge Denise Thiel has been scheduled for Oct. 11.

Scuffle is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. His bail is $10,000.