Cop Suspended in Theft from Apple Store

A Prince George’s County Police officer charged with stealing an iPad from the Apple store at Westfield Annapolis Mall has been suspended from duty with pay.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department on Friday charged off-duty Officer Temitope Asaya, 30, with theft under $1,000 and conspiracy to commit theft.

The Prince George’s County Department launched an administrative investigation after learning of the theft charge. Asaya is suspended with pay pending an administrative hearing. He has been employed by the department for four years and is assigned to the Bureau of Patrol.

According to Anne Arundel Police, the victim was shopping at the Apple store Sept. 12 when she accidentally left her iPad on a store counter; when she returned later it was missing.

Surveillance video reportedly showed Asaya and a second suspect, Tykina Marie Anderson, 24, of Capitol Heights, close to the iPad for several minutes. Police say the video shows Asaya walked away, but Anderson picked up the device and they left the store together with Anderson carrying the iPad.

The victim placed her iPad in lost mode displaying her phone number with a message reading, “I’m lost please contact.”

The suspects reportedly contacted the victim and claimed the iPad was purchased on Craigslist.

Anderson was also charged with theft under $1,000.