Postal Service Investigating Van Wert Mail Carrier Accused of Burning Undelivered Mail

The U.S. Postal Service is investigating a Van Wert postal employee accused of burning undelivered mail in his backyard Wednesday morning.

According to Van Wert Police Chief Doug Weigle, officers were called around 7:30 a.m. to a home in the 900 block of George Street after a report of an unattended fire. When officers arrived, they found evidence of postal mail being burned in the yard.

Police say the man, a local mail carrier, admitted to burning mail that was not his and had not been delivered. He told WANE 15 that he discovered a stack of mail from his route that he had forgotten to send out last Friday. Fearing disciplinary action, he said he decided to burn the six-inch pile in his fire pit.

The Van Wert Fire Department extinguished the flames and used a five-gallon bucket to remove the debris. The case was turned over to the postmaster, who arrived shortly after 8 a.m.

The carrier, who asked to remain anonymous, told WANE 15 he has been removed from his delivery route but has not been charged. He said he regrets his actions and apologized to the residents of Central Avenue who lost their mail.