Police officer steals from taxpayers; chief speaks out

WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The West Terre Haute Police Chief speaks out about a suspended officer who turned himself in on six felony theft charges.

Police say West Terre Haute officer Mark Arnold purchased gas for personal use with a city gas card paid by tax payer’s money.

The problem was brought to light after a red flag popped up during a state audit.

Arnold surrendered himself to state police Monday.

An investigation by the Indiana State Police found Arnold had purchased gas for his personal truck, his girlfriend's SUV and a portable can on multiple occasions.

Arnold was due in court Tuesday for his initial hearing but the judge had a change of plans.

Terry Modesitt, Vigo County Prosecutor says, "What happened is the judge recused himself because of a personal relationship with the defendant. So now he advised the state, he wanted us to re-file the charges in division one."

West Terre Haute Police Chief Don Lark says they noticed a spike in fuel costs after the Indiana State Board of Accounts caught a red flag during an audit.

Lark says it's frustrating for him; because he feels police are supposed to be held to a higher standard.

"That's tax payer’s money that provides our fuel for our vehicles to patrol the streets and it's not for our personal use. Theft is theft and that kind of behavior is not going to be tolerated,” said Chief Lark.

Indiana State Police say they have surveillance video of five different times when Arnold used the credit card to purchase personal gas but police believe Arnold could have used the card as many as eighteen times.

State police say all incidents happened through-out 2011 between January to August.