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View Winners → Former Arcadia cop busted for embezzlement of POA funds
Arcadia Weekly Oct 02, 2013
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Suspect was a six year veteran of APD
On Tuesday, September 24, 2013, investigators from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office obtained a felony arrest warrant for former Arcadia Police Officer Christian Blesch, 36, charging Grand Theft. The warrant was the result of an on-going criminal investigation into allegations that Blesch, a six-year employee of the department, feloniously stole money from the Arcadia Police Officers’ Association over a period of several months.
Arcadia Police Department command staff became aware of the allegations in March of this year, and soon thereafter relieved Blesch of duty, placing him on paid, administrative leave – pending the outcome of the L.A. County DA’s investigation into the thefts. As of September 24, 2013, Blesch was no longer employed by the Arcadia Police Department.
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The Arcadia police officer who allegedly charged more than $50,000 for personal items on a police association’s credit card pleaded not guilty to a felony count of grand theft by embezzlement.
Blesch, 36, surrendered in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom in connection with the charge, which was filed Sept. 24, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Blesch, who was elected treasurer of the Arcadia Police Officer Association in January 2011, allegedly used the association’s credit card to buy parts and accessories for his personal motorcycles and other items such as clothing, exercise equipment, shaving accessories and cigars.
According to the criminal complaint, the money was taken between Jan. 1, 2011, and March 14 of this year.
Blesch allegedly paid the monthly credit card bills through the association’s checking account.
He is due back in court Nov. 8, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
The ex-officer faces up to three years behind bars if convicted of the charge, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
