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A West Covina police officer has been charged with stealing money from motorists throughout site visitors stops since 2024.
Jose Antonio Garcia, 38, of Lengthy Seashore, was arrested and charged Friday by the Los Angeles County district lawyer’s workplace with one felony depend of misappropriation of public funds, one felony depend of grand theft by embezzlement and two misdemeanor counts of petty theft.
If convicted on all prices, he may resist 4 years in state jail and an extra consecutive one-year jail time period.
In accordance with prosecutors, Garcia performed a site visitors cease on Sept. 21, 2024, searched the sufferer’s automobile and stole about $600 in money from the sufferer’s pockets earlier than arresting them.
On Nov. 23, 2024, Garcia stole about $100 from a passenger’s backpack throughout a separate site visitors cease earlier than releasing the motorists with a verbal warning, based on prosecutors.
On Feb. 8, 2025, investigators say the officer performed a 3rd site visitors cease and searched the sufferer’s automobile, allegedly stealing about $300 from the automobile’s middle console earlier than releasing the motive force with a verbal warning.
“Stealing from the very folks you’re sworn to guard is a profound betrayal of the badge,” Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan J. Hochman stated. “When an officer turns routine site visitors stops into alternatives for theft, for their very own profit, it corrodes public belief and endangers the integrity of our justice system.”
Garcia was launched on a promise to seem in courtroom for his arraignment on Jan. 28, 2026, within the West Covina Courthouse.
Efforts to achieve Garcia on Tuesday had been unsuccessful.
West Covina Police Chief Antonio Cortina added: “Whereas we totally help due course of, any felony conduct by an officer, significantly involving theft or abuse of public belief, is unacceptable and undermines our mission. We’re deeply involved that an officer could have violated the general public belief and the elemental ideas of policing. We’re dedicated to making sure accountability.”
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