CT police officer charged with embezzlement
Meriden CT June 1 2018 The Meridian Police Department charged a former Meridian and current part-time officer of the Marion Police Department with embezzlement Tuesday.
Robert B. Spangler, also known as Robbye, has been charged with embezzlement by an agent or trustee, according to the Meridian Police Department.
Spangler, of Meridian, worked as a reserve officer for the Meridian Police Department, resigning sometime last month, according to Meridian Chief Benny Dubose.
Dubose said reserve officers don’t receive pay from the department but take the same oath of service and assist as needed on a voluntary basis.
“The Meridian Police Department Reserve Association had its own bank account it used to purchase equipment not purchased by this department,” Dubose said.
This might include two-way radios, duty belts or polo shirts, Dubose said.
Spangler was the previous treasurer of the account and resigned approximately two-to-three weeks ago, closing the association’s account and giving a check to the association, Dubose said.
“A new treasurer was elected or appointed by the association. He reviewed the account and he noticed some irregularities,” Dubose said. “He requested that the Meridian Police Department investigate.”
Closing the account may have raised some flags with the new treasurer, Dubose said, prompting the new treasurer to investigate.
Marion Police Chief Randall Davis said he didn’t know the details of the case but confirmed that Spangler worked part time for the department in addition to being a reserves officer and some part-time security work.
Due to that security work, Davis said Spangler had been on a leave of absence from the department since the April 14 tornado. Whether Spangler would continue to be employed by the department would depend on the outcome of the investigation, Davis said.
“I have talked to the investigators but he’s not working with Marion right now,” Davis said. “I don’t know what happened, but I feel like he’s a good guy and I hope it works out.”
Dubose said that investigators didn’t have a fixed amount of embezzled money but said investigators had found at least $1,000, which qualifies as a felony.
Spangler, born in 1974, didn’t appear in the Lauderdale County’s jail docket on Wednesday and doesn’t have a mugshot with Lauderdale County.
Dubose said Spangler had a $10,000 bond that he posted when he was arrested on Tuesday.
The case will “hopefully” be presented to a grand jury for indictment in July, Dubose said.
“What concerns me is that he was an officer… he took the same oath of office,” Dubose said. “There’s a higher standard for people who carry a badge. It’s a let-down to the officers.”
According to a Meridian Star “Behind the Badge” story from February of 2017, Spangler has over 16 years of experience as an officer.
The Meriden Star
