Officer stole cash from person he arrested, spent city funds on his car, CA officials say
A former police officer accused of stealing cash from someone he arrested and spending city funds on his personal car has been charged, California prosecutors say.
Randi Breon Vines, 34, who worked as an officer with the Oxnard Police Department, was charged with two counts of felony grand theft, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said in a Nov. 5 news release.
Vines joined the department in October 2017, according to a Facebook post from police.
“We take matters such as this very seriously, and we hold accountable those persons who cross the line, including our own employees,” Police Chief Jason Benites said in the release. “No one should be above the law.”
While employed by the city of Oxnard, Vines is accused of using a city-issued fuel card to buy gas for his personal car, according to prosecutors.
He did so on multiple occasions between September 2022 and May 2024, totaling more than $3,300, according to the release.
Vines is also accused of taking about $1,200 in cash while he was responsible for a suspect’s belongings, prosecutors said.
Before the person was booked into jail, Vines is accused of stealing most of their “cash from an envelope,” prosecutors said.
His own department investigated the thefts, prosecutors said.
“Police officers are entrusted to protect and serve the community,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in the release. “When that trust is violated, they must be held accountable.”
Vines, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, is expected to appear in court again on Dec. 11, prosecutors said.
Oxnard is about a 60-mile drive northwest from Los Angeles.
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 10:02 AM with the headline "Officer stole cash from person he arrested, spent city funds on his car, CA officials say."
