Harford Deputy Indicted In Theft Scheme

BEL AIR, MD — A deputy from the Harford County Sheriff's Office is facing two felony charges. Senior Deputy Christopher Jay Allen, 42, was indicted on two counts of theft scheme, the sheriff's office reported on Friday.

Officials said Allen, an 18-year veteran of the Harford County Sheriff's Office, was assigned to the police operations bureau at the southern precinct.

He was indicted on the following charges July 31, court records show:

• Theft scheme ($1,000 to $10,00) from February 2017
• Theft scheme ($1,500 to $25,000) from October 2017

After theft allegations were brought against Allen earlier this year, the sheriff's office said it conducted two parallel probes, one by its criminal investigators and the other by its internal affairs office. As the criminal investigation proceeded, authorities said they held a suspension hearing on May 9, and Allen was suspended with pay.

Since he was indicted by a grand jury on the theft scheme charges, Allen has been suspended without pay.

Based on the outcome of the case and/or the internal investigation, Allen may be terminated from the agency, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities have not said what Allen is accused of stealing, how the thefts happened, or how the purported thefts came to light.

"As sheriff, I firmly believe the community we serve deserves transparency and accountability, and the actions taken in this case demonstrate our deep commitment to earn and maintain our community’s trust," Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said in a statement, noting he did not want to comment further on the case to preserve the integrity of the investigation.

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