Former Cop Busted on Meth Distribution Charges
Jack Pennington retired from the Norristown Police Department as a Detective Sergeant in 1995. He was arrested Tuesday at the Plymouth Meeting Mall.
An Upper Merion man and former 28-year veteran of the Norristown Police Department was arrested Tuesday afternoon on charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine and illegal bookmaking, the Montgomery County District Attorney's office announced Thursday.
Jack Pennington, who retired from the police department in 1995, was taken into custody at the Plymouth Meeting Mall after an alleged exchange that included three ounces of crystal methamphetamine and almost $7,000 in cash, according to the criminal complaint filed by county detective James Vinter.
When he was arrested, Pennington was allegedly found to be in possession of his "retired" Norristown Police badge and $9,470 in cash.
"He kept using his badge" as he conducted criminal activities, District Attorney Risa Ferman said.
Authorities said they began investigating Pennington following an anonymous tip in late March.
Pennington allegedly used Steppy's bar and restaurant at the Facenda-Whitaker Lanes bowling alley in East Norriton as his base of operations.
Subsequent searches of Pennington's Upper Merion home and his silver Cadillac yielded an additional $3,000 in cash, five handguns and ammunition, digital scales and other materials allegedly used for weighing and distributing crystal methamphetamine, and an "undetermined quantity" of the drug itself.
Authorities said that unspecified evidence of illegal bookmaking was also found in Pennington's home.
Pennington is being held in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility on $2 million bail.
"He thought he was above the law. He thought the law didn't apply to him," Ferman said.
Feodor Tiorlenko
12:03 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Time to increase cops' pension???
april rodger
4:43 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
all these county cops an judges r crook it in these county its not what u no its who u no they all work together its all about the money
John Sailor
2:21 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
Ignore 1mansopinion, I've run into several officials who don't want you complaining about anything because it exposes them as corrupt from cops and code to judges and department heads.
1mansopinion
6:15 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Thank you for your invaluable opinons Feodor and April. It's times like this that the general public should keep their opinions to their selves. Times like this, meaning when they have nothing of any value to speak of. Thousands of cop's and public servant's reputations should not be tarnished by the actions of the few. Who do you think is going to hold these people accountable for their actions? The answer is the same people who you are critisizing. People like you should keep a PRIVATE journal to house all of your ridiculous thoughts so as not to embarass yourselves.
Robert Willi
10:37 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
I totally Agree. One bad Cop does not mean all of them are bad.
John Sailor
2:17 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
One bad cop may not make all of them bad but when Norristown has a community affairs cop that is supposed to bridge the gap, but only protects his buddy's business, then it bodes bad for the face of Norristown and the rest of the cops that don't pursue his agenda when he overrules their actions and retaliates against innocent people. Code enforcement was doing this although after the exposure of their dysfunctional department in the news that department seems to have stopped.
Feodor Tiorlenko
8:20 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
Bite Me....A..hole
Golden Cockroach
8:46 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
Keep your head in the sand, bozo!
Pamela Anderson
10:05 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
If they should keep a private journal, maybe you should too. What makes your opinion worthy in a comment section and not theirs?
find it disheartening (Karma)
7:12 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Leona Wren(Pennington) can now R.I.P. God Bless Her!
John Scioli
12:56 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
I think most people fail to realize, this is one isolated incident. A story like this typically makes readers generalize and come to conclusions about law enforcement corruptions. Keep in mind this is one retired law enforcement official out of many countless other law enforcement workers. A good majority of law enforcement personnel are law abiding upstanding citizens and very aware and abide by the laws. So do not formulate opinions or judgement based on the misguided deeds of one police officer. As a barber who caters mostly to law enforcement workers I know that off duty many of these gentlemen are normal men with lives and wives and families. There are isolate incidents with corrupt officers or retired officers. Keep in mind these few corrupt officers do not represent the majority of the good police that are out there keeping our streets safe. So before you generalize about this one isolated incident, remember that a vast majority are doing very well and are not in fact corrupt officers. Many are very nice young men who value their jobs and their lives and do not abuse their power. This message brought to you by your friendly neighborhood barber.
Ant
7:33 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
I know of two cops in Montgomery County who were directly involved with the financing of an oxy dealer...they front the money and would get money back like a return on investment. This was before they were on the force but still, come on, open your eyes stuff like this happens. Not the norm but this guy isnt the only bad cop in the area.
travon black
8:20 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
What isolated incident bull? Philadelphia cop accused of selling drugs to undercover FBI agent.http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/18841989/philadelphia-cop-accused-of-selling-drugs-to-undercover-fbi-agent
Golden Cockroach
8:13 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
I can trhow a stone & hit a bad cop. They are all over Pottstown. They protect landlords all the time and turn their heads for a buck!
Joinmetowin
9:08 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
This is why it is good to have bucks!!!!!
Golden Cockroach
9:36 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
The cops love folks like you, payers. The law isn't fair. Bad cops are everywhere, but you don't have to worry do you?
kidzmom
10:48 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
one bad apple doesn't spoil the whole basket