UPPER ALLEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- FOX43 is learning new details about a police officer who took his own life during a standoff yesterday.
Cumberland County District Attorney Dave Freed said police were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on Ronald Reinhart Jr., for burglarizing his estranged wife's home and trying to frame her current boyfriend.
Ronald Reinhart Jr., was a police Sergeant with the Susquehanna Township Police Department and remained on active duty as the investigation unfolded. His department was even left in the dark on the investigation to which Susquehanna Township Police Chief Rob Martin commended. He said Reinhart was a veteran of the police department and one of the first officers he hired. He said he was an officer many looked up to. "Today is the most horrific day in my career," he said during a press conference at the Upper Allen Township Police Department.
Freed said Reinhart used his position to get information about his estranged wife's boyfriend including his address, and even his social security number. Freed said Reinhart then planted a trash bag with the stolen items, including jewelry, at the boyfriend's Lower Paxton Township home. Several days after the burglary police received an anonymous tip about where they could find the jewelry, with a specific address and location.
On Monday officers went to arrest Reinhart on numerous charges including burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, loitering and prowling, false reports to law enforcement, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, obstructing administration of law or other governmental function and official oppression. The situation quickly turned into a standoff and ended with the death of 41-year-old Ronald W. Reinhart Jr. Police said he barricaded himself inside his home on the 100 block of Martel Circle in Carroll Township. Reinhart killed himself several hours after Upper Allen Township and Carroll Township police arrived at his home to serve the warrant.
Freed said police used at least two other methods to attempt to serve the warrant on Reinhart before resorting to their third option, using the Cumberland and York County Special Response teams. "Anytime you serve a warrant on someone with prior military or police experience you have to approach the situation with caution," said Freed. On Monday Reinhart barricaded himself inside his home. Freed acknowledged investigators did make some sort of contact with Reinhart but the outcome of the situation ended with him shooting and killing himself.
Upon further investigation Upper Allen Police found other evidence that Freed said indicated they made the right choice by sending in the extra police. Based on the evidence found at his home, Freed also said he believed Reinhart was planning violent acts against his estranged wife and her boyfriend.