Bethel Park school security guard charged with having guns on campus
Bethel Park PA May 5 2021
A security guard for the Bethel Park School District was being held Monday at the police station on charges of possession of guns on school property.
Bernard Allen Switala, 43, of Bethel Park, was discovered to have two pistols, one in a bag and one in his car.
Bethel Park police Chief Timothy O’Connor said his officers arrived at the high school Monday to serve an outstanding arrest warrant on Mr. Switala originally filed by Allegheny County police involving an incident at South Park in which Mr. Switala is alleged to have pulled a gun on an individual.
The officers went to Mr. Switala’s guard station and discovered a gun in Mr. Switala’s bag.
A search of his vehicle parked on school grounds turned up another gun, the chief said. Both are .38-caliber pistols.
Mr. Switala was scheduled to be arraigned in the afternoon before a local magistrate.
The school district referred all questions to the police.
