Officer Todd Ericsson is charged

[KC]

The Attorney General's Office announced another person has been charged in connection with the Mason case. Former Idaho Falls Police Officer Todd Ericsson is being charged with two felony counts of grand theft by possession for having two of those stolen guns that Mason allegedly took from the Idaho Falls Police evidence locker. Investigators say Ericsson may have known the guns were illegally taken. Ericsson is expected to be arrested on the charges soon and appear before a judge.

Chief Kent Livsey, Idaho Falls Police Department: "There are no indications that any currently-employed police officer is involved in the criminal deeds of Kimball Mason. We have a good department staffed with honest and courageous men and women. That Mr. Ericsson would put himself in a position to be charged with a felony in this case is a slap in the face to every officer in our department."

When asked why the department gave the Attorney General's Office's investigators Todd Ericsson's name last year as someone who may be involved, Chief Livsey said it was because he didn't trust Ericsson. Ericsson left the Idaho Falls Police Department in 2003 to take a security job with the U.S. State Department.

www.kpvi.com/index.cfm?page=nbcheadlines.cfm&ID=37810

[KC]

A former Idaho Falls police officer is now on the other side of the law, facing two felonies.

Officer Todd Ericsson heard the charges against him in a Jefferson County courtroom. Ericsson is charged with two counts of grand theft by possession of stolen items. Both charges are connected with former Idaho Falls prosecutor Kimball Mason. The attorney general's office alleges that Ericsson hid two of the guns that Mason has admitted to stealing out of the Idaho Falls police evidence locker.

Ericsson says he is a longtime friend of Mason's. He worked as a police officer for more than 20 years with IFPD, all the while developing a relationship with Mason -- a relationship he says hasn't ended because of these charges.

All the same players that have handled Mason's case were in court for Ericsson's first appearance. The attorney general's office filed the criminal complaint, and Mason's attorney James Archibald was standing in as Ericsson's lawyer Tuesday. Judge James Martsche read Ericsson the charges.

The attorney general's office alleges that Ericsson hid two of the guns that Mason stole out of evidence in his daughter's Utah house. These guns were among the 51 guns that Mason took from the Idaho Falls Police Department's evidence room.

The affidavit for probable cause sites an instant message conversation, when one of Ericsson's friends said, "A few days before the trial Todd visited Kimball, and Kimball asked him to take two guns to his home for him."

Tuesday in court, Ericsson had some strong words for Idaho Falls Police Chief Kent Livsey.

"I think he's a liar and a hypocrite, and I think these charges stem from it, because I'm the only one being charged. There were over 51 other weapons out there, and I'm the only one being charged. I think that says something right there."

Local News 8 talked to Livsey Tuesday afternoon. In response he says regardless of what Ericsson thinks, he hates to see any police officer charged with a crime, because it tarnishes all officers.

Ericsson won't be back in court for at least five months. He now works for the Department of Defense and has a scheduled tour to Iraq.

He was released Tuesday on his own recognizance.


www.localnews8.com/news/local/4768821.html