Crime & Safety
Former Cromwell Police Sergeant Charged With Workers’ Compensation Fraud
The man was seen doing construction work at his home despite receiving benefits for being physically unable to work at the police department
CROMWELL, CT — A former Cromwell police sergeant is accused of fraudulently collecting workers’ compensation benefits after he was seen doing construction work at his home despite an on-the-job injury that had supposedly left him unable to work, according to authorities.
Jonathan Mantel, 51, of Cromwell, was arrested Monday by Inspectors from the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney on a warrant and charged with one count of fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits, according to a press release from the Division of Criminal Justice.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Mantel received disability benefits as a result of a knee injury he reported suffering in June 2016 that left him unable to work as a Cromwell Police sergeant.
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Surveillance conducted over a period of nine days in October 2016 showed him working at his home, lifting and moving materials and using power tools to replace part of a deck and stairs, the warrant states.
Mantel received approximately $27,487 in workers’ compensation benefits and another $15,255 in salary from the town of Cromwell to bring him to full pay, the warrant states.
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Mantel was released on promise to appear in Middletown Superior Court on March 7.
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