The father of a Massachusetts man arrested last month for impersonating a police officer in Hempfield is behind bars after state police said he used a housing authority’s credit card to book hotel rooms in Unity, according to court papers.
Patrick Rooney, 47, of Maryland, is accused of using a credit card belonging to the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority in Richmond, Va,. to book two rooms for seven days at Springhill Suites in Unity, police said. Rooney reserved the rooms Jan. 31 under a different last name a couple hours after he and his son Thomas O. Rooney, 25, reportedly came in contact with police in Hempfield.
Patrick Rooney told troopers they were peddling gravel for driveways on Crows Nest Road Jan. 31 when police said his son pretended to be a Pittsburgh police officer after a resident refused to open her door, according to court papers.
Thomas Rooney was arrested. Patrick Rooney then rented the rooms for $1,840 for a group of men, a woman and several children, police said.
Troopers used surveillance footage from Springhill Suites to identify Patrick Rooney as the suspect, according to court papers. The theft was reported to police Feb. 4. He is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison without bail on access device fraud and theft charges.
He did not have an attorney listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing is set for Monday.
Thomas Rooney also is being held at the jail without bail. A preliminary hearing in his case is scheduled for Wednesday. He is charged with impersonating a public servant, simple assault and harassment.
