From the Sac Bee:
A former Sacramento police officer was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of grand theft, after he refused to return $20,000 to a friend who had given it to him to keep so she could qualify for public assistance, authorities said.
According to a Police Department news release, 35-year-old Sean J. Lewis had been with the department since 1999, primarily as a patrol officer.
He resigned before the arrest, but the release does not say when, and Sgt. Matt Young, a department spokesman, refused to answer any questions.
"I cannot provide any information other than what's on the press release at this time," Young said repeatedly. "The chief of police will be answering any questions regarding this incident."
A press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. today.
Chief Rick Braziel did not return calls seeking comment.
In another news release, the District Attorney's Office described the officer's friend, who has not been identified, as "a former dating partner."
The Police Department's news release says she is a "40-year-old female acquaintance" and that she reported the incident to the Police Department's internal affairs unit on March 10.
She alleged she handed Lewis $50,000 in cash on Jan. 11 to hold while she qualified for welfare.Lewis received the money while on-duty, went to his bank with it, but left without depositing it, according to the district attorney's news release.
The woman changed her mind the next day and asked for her money back. Lewis returned $30,000, saying authorities had confiscated the rest.
The District Attorney's Office says in its release that Lewis told her the money "had been garnished to pay back child support."
The news release says that was not true.
Lewis refused his friend's numerous requests for her money. Investigators executed several search warrants but have not found the missing cash.
