By Melanie D. Hayes
The Indianapolis Star
CARMEL, Ind. — A Carmel police officer whose job already was on the line was arrested Monday on four felony charges, including stealing a luxury vehicle from the Carmel dealership he worked part time.
During a news conference late Monday, Carmel Police Chief Michael Fogarty said that 8-year Carmel officer Michael B. Flynn, 33, was charged with forgery, a Class C felony, and auto theft, official misconduct and obstruction of justice, all Class D felonies.
The charges are the result of a two-month investigation conducted by the Carmel Police Department. The investigation began Sept. 18 with a report of a stolen white 1995 Lexus.
The case originally was reported to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, but was forwarded to Carmel when investigators realized the theft occurred at the Penske Chevrolet dealership in Carmel, according to a news release by Lt. Jeff Horner.
Detectives discovered the stolen vehicle was recently registered to Flynn. He has been employed as an off-duty security officer for the Penske dealership since mid-2006, and was employed there when the vehicle was stolen. Police have not determined if Flynn was working security on the date the Lexus disappeared, Fogarty said.
Police first approached Flynn about the car Sept. 19, and Flynn gave them several versions of how he came to possess the vehicle, according to a police document. First, Flynn said he had been asked by someone at Penske to tag the vehicle as an abandoned car, the affidavit said. Then, he said he bought it for $1,200 cash from a man, who he knew only as James.
Fogarty said Flynn was not “all that cooperative” with the investigation. To Fogarty’s knowledge, Flynn did not drive the stolen car to work.
Detectives continued the investigation and found additional crimes related to the stolen vehicle.
After the investigation was completed, the case was submitted to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors formally charged Flynn with the four felony counts Monday.
Flynn turned himself in to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department late Monday and was released on $10,000 bond, Fogarty said.
Flynn has worked for the Carmel Police Department since September 1999. He was placed on administrative leave with pay Sept. 28, pending the criminal investigation. Monday, Flynn was placed on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Last month, Fogarty recommended to the merit board that Flynn be terminated because the department has had several non-criminal issues with him.
An arraignment date had not been set by late Monday, Fogarty said.
Copyright 2007 The Indianapolis Star