Contra Costa Co. Sheriff's deputy arrested on theft-related charges, agency says

CONTA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. -- A longtime employee of the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office was arrested Tuesday on theft-related charges after an internal investigation uncovered alleged criminal conduct within the agency.

In a statement, the sheriff's office said detectives launched an investigation after discovering misconduct involving a temporary sheriff's deputy assigned to the property service unit office in Concord. Investigators later obtained search and arrest warrants and took the employee into custody on Tuesday afternoon.

The 62-year-old employee was booked into the Martinez Jail on suspicion of burglary, receiving stolen property, embezzlement and possession of an assault weapon. He was held on $160,000 bail.

INTERACTIVE: Take a look at the ABC7 Neighborhood Safety Tracker

Investigators did not disclose more details about the alleged thefts, saying only that he was arrested in connection with thefts from the Property Services Unit. They said they will ask the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to conduct an independent audit of the Property Services Unit.

"All Sheriff's Office employees are held to the highest standards and any employee who is involved in criminal conduct will be held accountable," Sheriff David Livingston said.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the employee joined the department in 1990 as a deputy sheriff and later became a temporary deputy sheriff assigned to the Property Services Unit in 2012.