Sheriff's deputy caught using heroin in store parking lot resigns

EAST LIBERTY, Pa. — A 24-year-old sheriff's deputy from Westmoreland County who was arrested Wednesday night after police said she used heroin in a store parking lot resigned Thursday afternoon.

Investigators said Deputy Erika Ditch and a friend, Leann Wechtenhiser, were arrested after Pittsburgh police saw the pair using the drug inside of a car parked in the East Liberty Target parking lot.

According to police paperwork, Ditch told police that she and her friend went to the lot with the intent of purchasing multiple bundles of heroin. At the time of their arrest, police said the two were in possession of 70 bags of heroin.

Ditch and Wechtenhiser were taken to the Allegheny County Jail on drug charges.

Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held told Channel 11's Dave Bondy that Ditch was suspended Wednesday night.

“She interned here a few years ago, and from what I understand, this was like a dream job for her,” Held said. “I was shocked because she did a good job for us. She came from a great background and a great family. This doesn’t make sense.”

Channel 11’s Courtney Brennan reported that Ditch’s heroin addiction was fairly new, and that she had passed her initial drug test at work.

“She just finished her initial basic training in December, which is 19 weeks, so she was away for that period of time,” Held said.

During a meeting Thursday afternoon with Held, Ditch submitted a letter of resignation effective immediately.

Held said he accepted Ditch’s resignation, and she is no longer employed by the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office.

“This incident is another reminder that we have a drug epidemic in Westmoreland County that transcends all socioeconomic statuses. No one in today’s society should be under the false belief that they are immune from the direct or indirect negative outcomes that stem from drug use,” Held said. “I have a zero tolerance policy in my office in regards to drug use by my employees. I wish Erika, and her family, the best as she combats the addiction in order to get her life back on track.”

Ditch had worked part-time in the inmate holding areas. Held said she had no access to money or evidence.

WPXI