ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — A former Wilkins Township deputy fire chief has been arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of children and other crimes.
According to police, 59-year-old Frank M. Derzak, of Wilkins Township, had an active felony arrest warrant and is facing charges of unlawful contact with a minor, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, sexual exploitation of children and indecent assault.
Court documents revealed that a boy would go over to Derzak’s house on Orchard Street in Wilkins Township by himself and Derzak would cuddle with him on the couch and touch him inappropriately.
The boy told police that Derzak would bribe him to touch Derzak in exchange for Pokemon cards.
Police said Derzak was reported missing by a family member on April 26. According to Allegheny County Police, Derzak was taken into custody on April 27 in Butler County during a traffic stop by Jackson Township police officers.
One of his neighbors – who wanted to remain anonymous – says she never noticed any kids at his house.
“Just being here knowing it happened over there is creepy, but like I said I never saw anything. I mean even the neighbors never said anything. Everybody talked to him. He was pretty well known,” said the neighbor.
Current Wilkins Township Fire Chief Jason Davis confirmed to Channel 11 that Derzak was the deputy fire chief until 2017.
“He left the department in late 2017 and has not been affiliated with the organization since that time. We will cooperate with authorities if they have any questions or feel we have information that can aid in their investigation,” said current Wilkins Township chief, Jason Davis.
This browser does not support the video element.