Deputy Allegedly Aiding FBI Probe Into LA County Sheriff's Dept. Arrested On Separate Charge
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A deputy believed to be connected to the FBI's corruption investigation into the L.A. County Sheriff's Department reportedly has been arrested in a separate incident of alleged ticket-fixing.
Edwin Tamayo, 44, had been on paid administrative leave since February 2013 while the department conducted an internal criminal investigation, according to LASD spokesperson Nicole Nishida. The probe led to officers taking Tamayo into custody in San Diego Tuesday on suspicion of taking a bribe and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Investigators expect to bring the case Thursday to the L.A. County District Attorney's Office, says Nishida, who wouldn't comment further on the allegations.
Nishida could not confirm whether Tamayo was the whistle-blower in the FBI investigation into the Sheriff's Department, only saying "I think he is."
The deputy has a suit against L.A. County claiming his unit commander ordered him to pick up sealed envelopes containing donations for then-L.A. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, which he considered illegal. Tamayo told the Los Angeles Times that during those pick-ups he had been wearing a wire to help the FBI's investigation.
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)