One of the costs includes using a TASER on a burger in exchange for cash.
The mayor, police chief, city clerk, and a former city clerk of an Iowa city have all been charged after a multi-year investigation accusing them of embezzling city funds, producing fraudulent public records, using a TASER on a citizen in exchange for cash money and the concealment of embezzlement.
The Iowa Attorney General’s office filed charges on Feb. 11 against current and former government officials of the city of Armstrong, Iowa, located in Emmet County, close to the Minnesota border, according to a statement from the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office.
“Mayor Greg Buum, Police Chief Craig Merrill, City Clerk Tracie Lang and former Town Clerk Connie Thackery were charged with felonies and felonies in a 21-count joint trial approved by the Emmet County District Court,” said the Emmet County Sheriff’s office. .
Buum, Merrill and Thackery face a top count of persistent criminal behavior – a Class B felony – while Lang faces a host of first-degree fraudulent practices – a Class C felony.
The investigation revealed misconduct of the defendants, including but not limited to embezzlement of city monies, the presentation of fraudulent public records, the use of a TASER against a citizen in exchange for cash, and forgery of ledgers to conceal embezzlement says Emmet County Sheriff. Office said.
Following a special investigation by the Auditor of State’s Office, three of the four suspects were subsequently arrested on February 12 with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
According to the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, more arrests may be pending in connection with this case, which said the charges against the suspects stemmed from a “ multi-year investigation, ” but they did not disclose who else they investigated or confirmed or confirmed. potential arrests would take place.