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New Castle State Trooper Charged With Stealing Drugs During Traffic Stops

NEW CASTLE (KDKA) -- Police have charged a New Castle state trooper for allegedly stealing drugs from people he pulled over during traffic stops.

Trooper Glenn Vaughn, 33, has been suspended without pay.

Police say he was arrested for stealing fake painkillers from an abandoned car, which was supposedly stolen and parked along a Lawrence County highway.

State police had set up the "sting" targeting Vaughn.

Vaughn was allegedly seen on hidden camera video from inside the car taking the fake pill bottle.

Later, he was confronted at the State Police barracks in New Castle where he was stationed.

According to court papers, Vaughn admitted to taking the bottle and ingesting several pills.

The sting operation, involving the bogus disabled car and fake pills, was set up earlier this week after investigators learned of an incident in June when Vaughn allegedly took drugs from a motorist at a traffic stop.

Just last month, police say they received additional information about alleged similar incidents.

Vaughn remains free without bond, on the condition he attend a drug rehab program.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office is investigating.

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