Post by WaTcHeR on Dec 2, 2006 10:41:53 GMT -5
12.02.2006 - An 11-year veteran Oakland County Sheriff's deputy has been charged with stealing about $1,700 from a motorist during a traffic stop. Deputy Craig Cejmer, 35, of Independence Township was charged last week with larceny between $1,000 and $20,000, a potential five-year felony.
Sheriff's officials are moving to fire him.
His attorney, though, said that the money was never intended to be stolen and that Cejmer is not guilty of any crime.
Cejmer, who is free on bond, is expected to be in court Thursday for a preliminary examination in front of 50th District Judge Preston Thomas in Pontiac, though that could be delayed to allow attorney Jerome Sabbota time to review evidence.
Internal investigators and prosecutors allege that Cejmer - who works in the alcohol enforcement unit - stopped a 28-year-old Pontiac man where Auburn Road turns into Orchard Lake Road on May 19. The man had thousands of dollars on him, and Cejmer suspected him of being drunk, prosecutors said.
After the man passed a preliminary breath test and was searched, he was allowed to go. Cejmer returned money to the man.
"The man realized he didn't get all his money back," Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Paul Walton said.
The man went to Pontiac police, who contacted the sheriff's office. It was determined that Cejmer stopped him.
"Part of the evidence that we anticipate introducing at the exam are state- ments by the defendant," Walton said.
The money was recovered and has been or will be returned, Undersheriff Michael McCabe said.
Sabbota said the money was returned by Cejmer after he realized it was left in his car. He did not find it immediately because deputies in the alcohol enforcement unit work mostly out of their patrol cars, taking them home because of the late shifts they work, searching for drunken drivers.
Sabbota attacked the charges as both improper in their technical nature and baseless because there was no intent to steal. He said the law requires a taking or carrying away of personal property of another person with the intent to permanently deprive the owner.
"That never happened," Sabbota said. "The money was found in the patrol car, and he turned it in to his supervisor. If it wasn't for his honesty, he wouldn't be in the predicament that he's in."
The money was not turned in immediately, though, as several days had passed and the alleged theft had already been reported.
Oakland County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Deborah Carley praised sheriff's officials for their willingness to investigate alleged wrongdoing by deputies.
"There's no question that they run a very clean ship at the sheriff's office," she said. "It's always a surprise when people who are supposed to uphold the law break it. In our society, we hold law enforcement to a much higher standard."
McCabe said Cejmer is suspended and will likely be fired, as the termination process started Friday with a hearing.
"I fully expect that he will be terminated," McCabe said. "It's always a surprise, but it's something we're not going to tolerate. Police officers are expected to enforce the law, not break it. We're removing someone who has no business in law enforcement."
McCabe said officials have heard of no other such incidents. He said the matter was investigated fully, with the investigation taking about six months.
Sabbota said that he thinks jealousy about an officer who makes many arrests were behind the charges.
"He's a police officer, and he comes from a police officer's family," Sabbota said. "He's devastated by this charge.
www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/120206/loc_2006120226.shtml
Sheriff's officials are moving to fire him.
His attorney, though, said that the money was never intended to be stolen and that Cejmer is not guilty of any crime.
Cejmer, who is free on bond, is expected to be in court Thursday for a preliminary examination in front of 50th District Judge Preston Thomas in Pontiac, though that could be delayed to allow attorney Jerome Sabbota time to review evidence.
Internal investigators and prosecutors allege that Cejmer - who works in the alcohol enforcement unit - stopped a 28-year-old Pontiac man where Auburn Road turns into Orchard Lake Road on May 19. The man had thousands of dollars on him, and Cejmer suspected him of being drunk, prosecutors said.
After the man passed a preliminary breath test and was searched, he was allowed to go. Cejmer returned money to the man.
"The man realized he didn't get all his money back," Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Paul Walton said.
The man went to Pontiac police, who contacted the sheriff's office. It was determined that Cejmer stopped him.
"Part of the evidence that we anticipate introducing at the exam are state- ments by the defendant," Walton said.
The money was recovered and has been or will be returned, Undersheriff Michael McCabe said.
Sabbota said the money was returned by Cejmer after he realized it was left in his car. He did not find it immediately because deputies in the alcohol enforcement unit work mostly out of their patrol cars, taking them home because of the late shifts they work, searching for drunken drivers.
Sabbota attacked the charges as both improper in their technical nature and baseless because there was no intent to steal. He said the law requires a taking or carrying away of personal property of another person with the intent to permanently deprive the owner.
"That never happened," Sabbota said. "The money was found in the patrol car, and he turned it in to his supervisor. If it wasn't for his honesty, he wouldn't be in the predicament that he's in."
The money was not turned in immediately, though, as several days had passed and the alleged theft had already been reported.
Oakland County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Deborah Carley praised sheriff's officials for their willingness to investigate alleged wrongdoing by deputies.
"There's no question that they run a very clean ship at the sheriff's office," she said. "It's always a surprise when people who are supposed to uphold the law break it. In our society, we hold law enforcement to a much higher standard."
McCabe said Cejmer is suspended and will likely be fired, as the termination process started Friday with a hearing.
"I fully expect that he will be terminated," McCabe said. "It's always a surprise, but it's something we're not going to tolerate. Police officers are expected to enforce the law, not break it. We're removing someone who has no business in law enforcement."
McCabe said officials have heard of no other such incidents. He said the matter was investigated fully, with the investigation taking about six months.
Sabbota said that he thinks jealousy about an officer who makes many arrests were behind the charges.
"He's a police officer, and he comes from a police officer's family," Sabbota said. "He's devastated by this charge.
www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/120206/loc_2006120226.shtml