A longtime Bethel Park police officer was in federal custody Thursday, accused of knowingly aiding an undocumented immigrant last year.

Lt. Blake Babin, a Bethel Park employee since 1990, was indicted this week on one count of “transporting an illegal alien,” federal court records show. The indictment was returned Wednesday and unsealed Thursday.

In a statement, Bethel Park police Chief Timothy O’Connor said the municipality received word Thursday that Lt. Babin “is in FBI federal custody.” He said the lieutenant is in charge of patrol and traffic officers, and the dispatch center.

Chief O’Connor declined further comment, calling the situation a personnel matter.

Lt. Babin could not be reached for comment.

The one-page indictment offers few details, and the undocumented individual is referred to only as “AMTH.”

The indictment alleges that Lt. Babin “knew or recklessly disregarded the fact that AMTH” was in the country illegally and “transported or attempted to transport AMTH within the U.S. in order to help AMTH remain in the U.S. illegally.”

The exact circumstances of the situation and the charges weren’t clear Thursday.

First Published: May 25, 2023, 7:06 p.m.