TERRE HAUTE —
A summons to appear in Vigo Superior Court 1 has been issued to the former police chief of West Terre Haute after a theft case filed Monday was transferred from a different court.
Lt. Mark Arnold, 38, could appear today for a court hearing on six counts of class-D felony theft. He is facing allegations of misusing his department-issued gasoline credit card.
Arnold, accompanied by his attorney, surrendered himself to state police Monday evening at the Vigo County Jail. He immediately bonded out after posting 10 percent of a $15,000 bond.
The investigation by the Indiana State Police into the alleged misuse of the credit card began in October 2011, said Don Lark, current West Terre Haute police chief.
Arnold has been on administrative leave from the department since the investigation began. A meeting of the West Terre Haute Town Council is set for Monday, and the council could make a determination on Arnold’s status as a town employee.
Arnold was hired as a police officer in 2001, and has previously served as police chief for about five years. He stepped down for personal reasons several months ago, before the investigation, Lark said.
The credit card misuse that police have investigated took place between Jan. 24, 2011, and Aug. 25, 2011. Five of the 23 questionable purchases discovered were recorded by video surveillance and totaled $267.83, according to an ISP news release.
Lark requested the investigation after the Indiana State Board of Accounts found a spike in gas consumption by the police department and alleged misuse of the credit card assigned to Arnold, according to the state police.
Further investigation by the ISP raised suspicion that Arnold may have purchased gasoline for his personal truck, his girlfriend’s SUV and a portable gas can on multiple occasions at the Pacific Pride fuel station, 2026 E. Harlan Drive in southern Vigo County, the ISP release states.
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