OFF THE WIRE
The Carlsbad Police Department has arrested one of its own officers on suspicion of burglary following a misconduct investigation, the police chief announced Sunday night.
Carlsbad police Officer Michael C. Koch, 44, has been placed on administrative leave and the case against him has been filed with the San Diego County district attorney's office, Chief Gary Morrison said in a brief written statement.
Koch was arrested and booked into jail Thursday, according to San Diego County Sheriff's Department records.
"Upon learning of potential misconduct, an immediate investigation was launched resulting in the arrest of Police Office Koch," Morrison's statement said. "Any breach of the public’s trust that comes to the attention of this Department will be dealt with swiftly and thoroughly."
Morrison called the development a "tremendous disappointment" but offered few other details, saying it was a personnel investigation.
The statement did not describe the crime Koch is accused of committing, and the legal definition of burglary is broad: entering a structure to commit a theft or any felony.
Koch was booked into the Vista jail on suspicion of second-degree burglary, which, according to the California penal code, means he was not accused of committing burglary in an inhabited home.
It wasn't clear Sunday night how long Koch had been with the Carlsbad Police Department.
Koch had been mentioned in a 2006 North County Times article as a detective investigating vandalism reports. As of Sunday, he was not a detective, said Lt. Bruce May.
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/carlsbad/carlsbad-police-officer-arrested-on-suspicion-of-burglary/article_6aff1bcf-dbe7-51f3-a8b0-d2bdd925841a.html
