UPDATE: More Than $5K Worth of Items Stolen From Firehouse

Two firefighters face numerous charges after allegedly stealing items from the used for personal safety and allegedly caused damage to several rooms and lockers at the Carey Avenue firehouse last Wednesday, Butler Police said Monday.

William R. Meier, 26, and John B. Futcher III, 20, were each charged with burglary, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, theft and receiving stolen property. Meier is also the son of Butler Councilman Robert Meier.

Police said the department has filed an inquiry with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as to whether the men can be potentially prosecuted on charges of official misconduct. Police confirmed that both are members of the Butler Fire Department.

Butler Police Capt. Ciro Chimento said the value of the stolen property exceeds $5,000.

"Some of the stolen items included active personnel firefighter helmets, personal firefighter alarms (known as PASS), which are utilzed in the event a fireman becomes incapacitated in a structure fire, alerting other firemen to his whereabouts, fire hose nozel, emergency portable radio charger, memorial flags for the deceased members of the fire department and various emergency hand tools used to extricate injured persons (from homes, vehicles etc.)," he said.

Police said a call of suspicious activity at the firehouse was placed by an off-duty firefighter Wednesday shortly before 6 a.m. The firefighter told police he saw the suspicious activity, followed by Meier and Futcher allegedly fleeing the scene in one of their vehicles.

The Morris County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigation Division was requested to the scene to uncover additional evidence and Meier and Futcher were arrested later that afternoon.

Meier is currently serving probation for an unrelated prior incident, police said, and his bail was set at $75,000 with no 10 percent option. Futcher’s bail was set at $75,000 with no 10 percent option. Police said neither were able to post bail and were sent to the Morris County Correction Facility until their court appearances.

On Thursday, Butler Mayor Robert Alviene only commented that the incident is being investigated.

"It's under investigation right now as to what transpired," he said.

Calls to Fire Chief Jim Neill and Councilman Meier were not immediately returned Monday.