FPD Press Release - Theft and Official Misconduct

PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact: PIO Yumi McCulloch, 907-388-0909 ymcculloch@fairbanks.us
DATE: December 10, 2018
INCIDENT: Theft in the Fourth Degree and Official Misconduct
CASE #: 18-4274

On Tuesday, November 27, 2018, a citizen, P.M., contacted the on-duty Supervisor at Fairbanks Police Department (FPD) regarding cash missing from a wallet after it was turned over to Fairbanks Police Officer MANUEL BEZA. The on-duty Supervisor immediately contacted the Chief of Police. The details of the incident were reviewed and there seemed to be no reasonable explanation for the cash to be missing so a criminal investigation was initiated.

P.M.’s statement to FPD indicated that on November 23, 2018 at approximately 7:30pm, he found a wallet belonging to I.F. at Justa Store located at 446 Chena Pump Road. P.M. stated that the wallet contained a driver’s license, credit cards, other items, and approximately $120.00 in U.S. Currency. P.M. was able to find a Fred Meyer Rewards card and a work phone number. P.M. tried the work number and also went to Fred Meyer and their staff was unable to contact I.F. At that point, P.M. decided to bring the wallet to the Fairbanks Police Department.

While en route to the Fairbanks Police Department, P.M. was involved in a traffic collision on University Avenue and Rewak Drive. Officer BEZA arrived on scene and P.M. turned the wallet over to him. P.M. left a message on I.F.’s work phone to ensure that she retrieved the wallet from FPD.

I.F. called P.M. on November 27, 2018 and stated that the wallet was retrieved from FPD but there was no cash inside. P.M. was upset since the wallet contained the cash when turned over to Officer BEZA and contacted the Fairbanks Police Department to file a complaint.

At the initiation of the criminal investigation, BEZA initially denied taking any money out of the wallet and stated that there was no money when he received it. During a subsequent interview, BEZA admitted to stealing between $60.00 to $80.00 out of I.F.’s wallet. He provided no legal justification for his actions.

BEZA was charged with THEFT IN THE FOURTH DEGREE and OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT. BEZA was hired by the Fairbanks Police Department in July of 2017 assigned to the Patrol Division and had no prior law enforcement experience.

BEZA was placed on Administrative Leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation and a subsequent administrative investigation. The criminal investigation was concluded four days after the complaint was filed. The case was turned over to the District Attorney’s Office and has been forwarded to the State of Alaska Office of Special Prosecution.

Fairbanks Police initiated the Administrative Investigation and prior to its conclusion, BEZA submitted his resignation on Friday, December 7, 2018 and is no longer employed with the Fairbanks Police Department.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact Lt. Matt Soden at msoden@fairbanks.us or 907-450-6556.

***Fairbanks Chief of Police Eric Jewkes issued a video statement regarding this incident that you can watch on the Fairbanks Police Department Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Fairbankspd/videos/2259415710982879/