SEPTA Transit Police Officer Placed on Leave Following Arrests in South Jersey

Oct. 12, 2016
A Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Transit Police officer who had been placed on administrative duty after being charged with simple assault has now been put on leave following a second incident

A Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Transit Police officer who had been placed on administrative duty after being charged with simple assault has now been put on leave following a second incident in which he was charged with burglary and theft, SEPTA Transit Police Chief Thomas Nestel III has announced.

Both incidents occurred in Mount Ephraim, New Jersey, while the officer, Steven Miele, 30, was off duty. Miele was charged with simple assault connected to a Sept. 5 incident, and on Monday, Oct. 10, was charged with burglary and theft following a domestic incident.

The criminal investigations related to these incidents are being handled by the Mount Ephraim Police Department. SEPTA does not have additional information about either incident that is available for release at this time.

Nestel said the SEPTA Transit Police Department took immediate and appropriate action in placing Miele on administrative duty following notification about the first incident, and then putting him on leave after learning of the charges filed on Monday.

Nestel said the SEPTA Police Board of Inquiry will review the details of the incidents to determine the appropriate discipline.