by Elizabeth RuizA Bexar County Detention Officer is seeing the other side of the bars at the jail after getting arrested for allegedly stealing copper.
San Antonio Police Officer Matt Porter says an officer on patrol Friday at Brooks City Base saw a vehicle parked in front of a vacant building and went to investigate because he thought it could be a stolen vehicle.
"As he approached that vehicle, he heard a loud sawing noise inside the building," said Porter. At that point, the officer went inside the building where he saw the suspect cutting pipe to get the copper wire."
Forty-seven-year-old Deputy Mark McGee was arrested and taken downtown for questioning.
"He was later booked on a charge of theft of aluminum and copper under $20,000," said Porter.
McGee reportedly told officers he thought it was okay to take the copper because the building was abandoned.
""I take these matters very seriously," said Bexar County Sheriff Susan Pamerleau.
McGee has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office and a criminal investigation by the San Antonio Police Department.
"I find it intolerable for a law enforcement officer to commit a felony. Let me be clear, I will not accept this kind of behavior from any of the Sheriff's Office employees, especially a law enforcement officer," said Pamerleau.
She vowed to take immediate and decisive action once the investigations are complete.
