Seattle Cop Faces Theft Charge

SEATTLE, WA - Seattle police officer Michael Stankiewicz, 46, was charged Tuesday with first-degree theft for allegedly taking up to $23,000 in pay for days he was not working. Stankiewicz has been placed on unpaid administrative leave until the matter is resolved, according to the department.

According to court records, Stankiewicz' supervisor discovered the discrepancies. In mid-August, Lt. Grant Ballingham radioed for assistance from a Department of Corrections team, which is comprised of a Seattle officer and a state DOC officer. The team on duty that day included Stankiewicz, but he allegedly never responded to the call.

Ballingham noticed that Stankiewicz was listed as on vacation that day in August, but was also scheduled to be on duty. Looking through department records, Ballingham found other similar discrepancies, which led to a larger investigation by the Office of Professional Accountability.

Investigators were eventually able to use cell phone data to determine whether Stankiewicz was either in Seattle or in Marysville, where he lives, on the days he was supposed to be at work, according to court records.

Stankiewicz was disciplined last year over a May 2015 incident where he pushed a suspect's face toward the pavement while asking him questions, according to department records. The video of that incident can be seen here at 19:30.

In 2014, Stankiewicz was one of several officers who used profanity to criticize a White Center businessman - and former U.S. Attorney - who published an essay on Medium about Seattle police responsiveness in the White Center area.

Stankiewicz joined Seattle police in March 1997, according to court records, and was first suspended over the theft allegations at the end of August.

You can read the full criminal complaint below. Stankiewicz will be arraigned on Nov. 6.

Image via YouTube