Several trials were brought to a halt in the Beaver County courts today after members of the District Attorney’s Office, Detectives Bureau, Sheriff’s Office, and Emergency Services Unit (SWAT team) tested positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to the virus.
The latest developments came as the Beaver County Prothonotary’s Office went dark this week due to Prothonotary Michael Rossi infecting several members of his staff with COVID-19 after traveling across the country to golf in Las Vegas with other county officials.
County judges held an emergency meeting today that saw jurors being discharged and trials being postponed.
District Attorney David Lozier told BeaverCountian.com that several county detectives, sheriffs deputies, and municipal police officers were exposed to the virus when serving in their official capacity as members of the Emergency Services Unit (ESU), the county’s version of a SWAT team.
“We had an ESU event where several team members ended up testing positive or exhibiting symptoms after the event,” Lozier said.