The longtime treasurer of the Sarver Volunteer Fire Company is accused of taking about $150,000 from the group, state police said Wednesday.

William R. George, 66, of Tarentum, is charged with felonies theft and access device fraud following an investigation by state police. According to the police report, George served as the volunteer fire company’s treasurer from 2015 to 2022.

Police stated that on Oct. 6, a member of the fire company reported a theft involving the company’s bank account; a series of suspicious ATM withdrawals and transactions were present on the company’s bank statements. These bank statements were provided to the police.

According to court documents, the fire company could determine no reason for cash to be withdrawn from the account.

Police said withdrawals happened mostly at PNC Bank ATMs from Tarentum to Kittanning.

On Oct. 18, a search warrant was served at PNC Bank in Natrona Heights for information about the fire company’s account, bank statements and ATM surveillance from Sept. 6 for the account’s debit card. The bank statements from September 2015 to 2022 and video were obtained from the bank. Police said that only one debit card was associated with the account.

According to police, ATM withdrawals and fees on the statements totaled $142,208.26, and video surveillance shows George withdrawing money from the ATM.

In addition to the ATM withdrawals, police said statements showed a tax payment for $4,977.39 and a $124.43 fee on a residence registered to George.

Court documents show George was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Sue Haggerty.

The Sarver Volunteer Fire Company issued a statement Wednesday: “The fire company would like to ensure the public that it has taken steps to secure its finances and has implemented more stringent financial controls.”

The company’s statement emphasized the integrity of its officers and explained that it was taking steps to learn from the incident.

“This incident has brought the department together in the desire to continue its primary mission of serving the community, and it is committed to continuing to do so with a higher level of control over its finances,” the statement said. “The fire company would like to thank the members of the community for their continued support.”