Philadelphia Contractor Arrested In Alleged Solar Panel Ripoff
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) - Montgomery Township police have arrested a Philadelphia contractor who they say had been on the run since last fall after ripping off customers who hired him to "green" their homes.
Police say they received a tip that led them to a house in the 2000 block of Medary Avenue, in the West Mount Airy section of Philadelphia. It was there they found Michael McKinley, 40, who was taken into custody without incident on theft and related charges.
Police have been looking for McKinley since September in connection with four customers who say he took money from them but either never completed or never started the work of installing solar panels (see previous story).
McKinley ran Solaris Energy and was licensed and approved by the state.
Montgomery Township detective Ed Davies says McKinley took more than $84,000 from his victims.
McKinley was being held in Montgomery County on $10,000 bail following his arraignment. His next court appearance is tentatively scheduled for next week.
Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio 1060.
