Pittsburgh firefighter charged with firehouse thefts

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pittsburgh firefighter who is suspended and undergoing drug treatment allegedly called in false alarms then used a pass key to enter a city firehouse so he could steal money from others who left to respond to the false alarms.

Police say 31-year-old Vincent Manzanella already was on workers’ compensation when he allegedly stole the money to buy heroin in April.

City officials want to fire Manzanella, and Public Safety Director Michael Huss says he’d like to begin a drug-testing program for firefighters, though union officials oppose that.

Manzanella could not be reached at his home and no attorney is listed for him in online court records.

Police say Manzanella stole about $85 from co-workers and a firehouse kitchen fund. Police say he called in the false alarms from pay phones.