MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ – A Maricopa County employee was arrested for allegedly stealing over 700 gallons of gas from the county fill station for personal use over the past two years.
Lieutenant Brian Lee with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said 51-year-old Matthew Walter Forest, a Job Order Manager with the Maricopa County Facilities Management Operations & Maintenance Division, is suspected of using the county fill station to put gas in his personal vehicle.
Lee said since November 2007, deputies believe Forest stole over 700 gallons from the county fill station for personal use with an estimated value of over $1,700.00.
The case against Forest was initiated when an alert deputy reportedly noticed Forest pumping fuel into what appeared to be a personal vehicle.
The Sheriff's Corruption Unit arrested Forest on probable cause of Theft, a class six felony, and fraudulent schemes, a class two felony.
Sheriff Arpaio stated that during this difficult period of budget cuts and fiscal constraints it is very troubling that this type of activity is occurring.
