OLD FORGE -- A former president of Old Forge Ambulance and Rescue was arrested and charged Tuesday with theft, forgery, and receiving stolen property.
Robert Gotay of Scranton is accused of pocketing about $16,000 during his time as president of the ambulance association this year.
According to investigators, Gotay has worked in emergency medical services in Old Forge for more than 15 years.
"Good guy, even when everything was happening back in the beginning, he would come to all the council meetings and fight to get the Old Forge Ambulance service back in business to provide EMS coverage,” said Old Forge Police Chief Jason Dubernas.
According to court papers, Gotay began taking money in January, when he became president of the ambulance association. When the missing money was noticed last month, Gotay resigned and, according to officers, confessed to the theft because of a "severe" gambling problem.
"That's not right, plain and simple. The way people are doing things, it's crazy,” said Rich Jones of Old Forge, who lives right next to ambulance association.
"That's a lot of money. I guess he's paying his due for that, but that makes the community people feel we can't trust the people that are supposed to be in charge,” said Manza Person of Old Forge.
Police say Gotay is fully cooperating and so are all the members of the ambulance association. Gotay has offered to pay back all the stolen cash.
"There's really no discrepancy between what they're saying and what he's saying,” said Chief Dubernas.
Gotay is free on bail. Newswatch 16 went to his home in Scranton for comment. No one answered the door.
