Former Pittsburgh-Area Police Chief Pleads Guilty To Drug, Weapon-Related Charges

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PA — A former Pittsburgh-area police chief and school board member pleaded guilty Wednesday to multiple felony charges involving drugs and a stolen weapon.

Eric Doutt, 57, the former Arnold police chief, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs with the intent to distribute, criminal use of a communications facility, and receiving stolen property in Armstrong County Court as part of a plea deal.

Doutt had also been charged with possession with intent to distribute, theft, tampering with physical evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia. Those charges were withdrawn as part of the plea deal.

Doutt sold cocaine on multiple occasions while under police surveillance. The receiving stolen property charge stems from an AR-style rifle found during a search of his home. The rifle was stolen from an evidence locker at his former department. The rifle was to be destroyed, but he took possession instead, intending to return it to its original owner.

Doutt was arrested in November 2025 following an investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.

”This type of conduct by a trusted officer of the law violates the oath he took to keep our communities safe,” Attorney General Sunday said at the time. “As a sworn officer, he was duty bound to remove these dangers from the community and instead, we allege he peddled these poisons.”

Doutt retired as police chief in Arnold in January 2024. He also served as a New Kensington-Arnold School District director.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 1.