Post by WaTcHeR on Dec 6, 2006 14:27:47 GMT -5
12.06.2006 - PONTIAC -- An Oakland County Sheriff's deputy accused of stealing cash from a motorist during a traffic stop will be in court Thursday.
Investigators say Officer Craig Cejmer, a member of the Sheriff's Alcohol Enforcement Team, took $1,700 in cash from a man during a traffic stop May 19 near Orchard Lake and Woodward.
Cejmer, an 11-year police veteran, was charged with larceny over $1,000 last month, a five-year felony. He was fired Friday by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office after a hearing into the matter.
Defense attorney Jerome Sabbota said Cejmer later found the money, placed it on a clipboard and brought it to the Sheriff's Office before he was asked about it by his supervisors.
Prosecutors said Cejmer pulled over the motorist on suspicion of drunken driving. Cejmer started searching the motorist, removing large amounts of money from his pockets, Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton said Monday.
Police say after the man passed a preliminary breath test, Cejmer returned some of the money and let him go. The victim later realized he was missing $1,700. He went directly to Pontiac Police, who put him in contact with the Sheriff's Office, which began an internal investigation.
Walton said after investigators began asking for all in-car videotapes from Cejmer's patrol car, Cejmer admitted he made the traffic stop. A few days later he came forward with the cash.
"He says he found the money in his patrol car. … He said 'It must have just fallen between seats,' " Walton said of Cejmer's statement.
Walton said the deputy had no legal basis to search the motorist or empty his pockets since the man was not being arrested.
Undersheriff Mike McCabe said the victim told police he had $20,000 on him.
"We are convinced he stole that money and he was going to keep it for himself. This is unacceptable. We run a clean shop here," McCabe said.
Sabbota said Cejmer, a top producer of tickets for the department, is devastated by the charges.
"If he wanted to take the money he wouldn't have given it back," Sabbota said. "Some of the money fell in between the seats."
www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/METRO02/612050307/1009
Investigators say Officer Craig Cejmer, a member of the Sheriff's Alcohol Enforcement Team, took $1,700 in cash from a man during a traffic stop May 19 near Orchard Lake and Woodward.
Cejmer, an 11-year police veteran, was charged with larceny over $1,000 last month, a five-year felony. He was fired Friday by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office after a hearing into the matter.
Defense attorney Jerome Sabbota said Cejmer later found the money, placed it on a clipboard and brought it to the Sheriff's Office before he was asked about it by his supervisors.
Prosecutors said Cejmer pulled over the motorist on suspicion of drunken driving. Cejmer started searching the motorist, removing large amounts of money from his pockets, Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton said Monday.
Police say after the man passed a preliminary breath test, Cejmer returned some of the money and let him go. The victim later realized he was missing $1,700. He went directly to Pontiac Police, who put him in contact with the Sheriff's Office, which began an internal investigation.
Walton said after investigators began asking for all in-car videotapes from Cejmer's patrol car, Cejmer admitted he made the traffic stop. A few days later he came forward with the cash.
"He says he found the money in his patrol car. … He said 'It must have just fallen between seats,' " Walton said of Cejmer's statement.
Walton said the deputy had no legal basis to search the motorist or empty his pockets since the man was not being arrested.
Undersheriff Mike McCabe said the victim told police he had $20,000 on him.
"We are convinced he stole that money and he was going to keep it for himself. This is unacceptable. We run a clean shop here," McCabe said.
Sabbota said Cejmer, a top producer of tickets for the department, is devastated by the charges.
"If he wanted to take the money he wouldn't have given it back," Sabbota said. "Some of the money fell in between the seats."
www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/METRO02/612050307/1009