Dade Sergeant Arrested Over Alleged Misuse Of Gas
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A veteran Miami-Dade Police Sergeant is under arrest, accused of pumping county gas for his private use.
Miami-Dade Police Sergeant Emil Van Lugo was arrested May 15th on charges of Organized Fraud and Petit Theft.
The arrest of this 16-year veteran comes after an investigation conducted by Miami-Dade Police and the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
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Officials said the investigation began over concerns that Sgt. Lugo was improperly using his county access at county filling stations from January to March.
Surveillance video, used in the investigation, showed gas cans, filled at the county refueling station being used to refuel a private at his home.
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle issued a statement on the matter saying in part, "A police officer, who would sell his good name and his integrity just to put gas into his wife's car, tarnishes the reputation of every good officer on the force."
According to the investigation, Sgt. Lugo would also go to a gas station rarely used by other officers.
Miami-Dade Police Director J.D. Patterson also issued a statement saying in part, "Anytime one of our officers tarnishes the badge we will hold them accountable to the law, in order to not jeopardize that trust."
Sgt. Lugo bonded out of jail. CBS4's Maggie Newland went by his home but no one answered the door.
