May 25--A Yemassee police captain has been suspended without pay after being accused by state investigators of pocketing more than $10,000 in cash seized from traffic stops.
Town officials were notified Tuesday that Capt. Gregory Alexander had been charged with one count of misconduct in office and two counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent after an investigation by the S.C. Law Enforcement Division into the finances of the town's police force, Yemassee Police Chief Jack Hagy said.
Alexander is accused of misusing more than $10,000 in cash seized by the department between Feb. 12, 2009, and Jan. 15, 2011, according to the indictment.
The traffic stops occurred in July 2010, when he allegedly took $10,000, and in February 2009, when he is accused of taking $748, the indictment said.
Hagy, who said the captain is suspended pending the outcome of the case, stood by Alexander.
"We have full faith and confidence in Capt. Alexander, and we believe this matter will be resolved," Hagy said.
Alexander is the department's second-in-command, according to its website.
The investigation that led to the charges began in October 2010 when Mayor J.L. Goodwin asked Hampton County Sheriff T.C. Smalls to investigate "financial irregularities" within the department, Goodwin has said.
Soon after, Smalls turned the investigation over to SLED, according to town officials.
Goodwin said Thursday the charges against Alexander did not rattle his confidence in Hagy or the police department and hoped the case would be resolved in Alexander's favor.
"I feel good about the department," Goodwin said.
Based on the amount he is accused of stealing, Alexander faces two to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to state law.
Attempts Thursday to reach a SLED spokeswoman were unsuccessful.
Follow reporter Patrick Donohue at twitter.com/ProtectServeBft.
Copyright 2012 - The Beaufort Gazette, S.C.
