Wake County Deputy Fired and Arrested for Tipping Off Wanted Suspect
Anthony Jose Garcia, 29, faces charges of obstruction of justice and computer fraud after allegedly using government systems to warn a suspect about active warrants.
Former Wake County Deputy Charged With Obstruction and Computer Fraud
A former Wake County sheriff's deputy has been arrested and dismissed from his post after allegedly misusing government computer systems to alert a wanted individual to active felony warrants, abc11.com reports.
Anthony Jose Garcia, 29, was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with one count of obstruction of justice and one count of accessing government computers for fraud. Court documents state that Garcia used official property and systems to tip off a person who was the subject of outstanding felony warrants, acting, according to the documents, "in secrecy and with malice."
Garcia is no longer employed by the Wake County Sheriff's Office. He had joined the department in August 2020.
Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe said his office launched an immediate investigation once the allegations surfaced. "As law enforcement officers we are entrusted with tools and information to be used to serve and safeguard our community," Rowe said. "These resources are not for any other purpose, and we will not tolerate any conduct that compromises the trust placed in us or the integrity of this office."
Rowe added that the office remains committed to serving Wake County "with professionalism, integrity, and the highest ethical standards."
The sheriff's office confirmed the case remains under active investigation.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)