A veteran Los Angeles police officer working within the jails has been arrested on suspicion of theft and fraud after a stolen debit card was used at a house enchancment retailer.
Edmond Babaians, 42, who was assigned to the Custody Companies Division, was booked on a felony warrant by the LAPD‘s inside affairs unit Tuesday.
A girl reported that her debit card was lacking after she had been at a division facility. She instructed investigators a number of transactions had been made with the cardboard, in keeping with her financial institution assertion, and she or he obtained safety system pictures of a person utilizing the card to make purchases at a house enchancment retailer.
The lady turned over the pictures to LAPD investigators, who recognized the theft suspect as Babaians, in keeping with an LAPD assertion.
LAPD Officer Edmond Babaians.
(LAPD)
Whereas the division didn’t describe the fraudulent purchases, a felony warrant typically means theft of greater than $950.
“The allegations of an officer breaking public belief are extraordinarily troubling, and there have to be accountability,” LAPD Chief Michel Moore stated in a press release revealing the arrest late Tuesday.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass additionally emphasised the accountability of sworn officers.
“Our law enforcement officials have to be held accountable to the very best normal,” she stated in a press release. “I need to acknowledge and thank Chief Moore and LAPD management for swiftly taking motion on this severe matter.”
She added that the Police Division’s integrity “is of the utmost significance, and we should proceed to behave with transparency and accountability to construct belief with all Angelenos”
Babaians has labored as an LAPD officer for 16 years. He was booked in LAPD’s Valley Jail Part and later launched on his personal recognizance, a bail normal applied by the Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom for such an offense.
He was relieved of his police powers and was assigned to dwelling pending the end result of the LAPD’s administrative and felony investigation.
Moore stated the Police Division is cooperating with the L.A. County district lawyer’s workplace, which is able to discover costs in opposition to the officer.
