Charles Mottern
Related links
LAKE FOREST -- A former Los Angeles police officer is behind bars, accused of burglarizing Saddleback Church several times since August 2008.
Charles Mottern, 45, of Irvine, worked at the church as a security guard.
He was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, evading arrest and resisting arrest, according to an Orange county Sheriff's spokesperson.
Mottern may also face charges of impersonating a police officer.
Mottern was working at the church in August 2008 when church officials began noticing things missing, including cash, cameras, computers and radios, said sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.
Then, at about 5 a.m. Thursday, security guards interrupted a burglary, but were unable to catch the thief.
They chased the suspect and saw him drive off in a black BMW.
The information was turned over to sheriff's investigators, who obtained a search warrant for Mottern's home on Tuesday.
Investigators saw Mottern driving the same black BMW and tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect drove off in his car.
He finally pulled over, but then fled on foot. Mottern was tasered and then taken into custody.
Amormino said it also appeared he was in possession of false police credentials."
Mottern is being held on $100,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear at Harbor Justice Center on Nov. 30.
Charles Mottern, 45, of Irvine, worked at the church as a security guard.
He was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, evading arrest and resisting arrest, according to an Orange county Sheriff's spokesperson.
Mottern may also face charges of impersonating a police officer.
Mottern was working at the church in August 2008 when church officials began noticing things missing, including cash, cameras, computers and radios, said sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.
Then, at about 5 a.m. Thursday, security guards interrupted a burglary, but were unable to catch the thief.
They chased the suspect and saw him drive off in a black BMW.
The information was turned over to sheriff's investigators, who obtained a search warrant for Mottern's home on Tuesday.
Investigators saw Mottern driving the same black BMW and tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect drove off in his car.
He finally pulled over, but then fled on foot. Mottern was tasered and then taken into custody.
Amormino said it also appeared he was in possession of false police credentials."
Mottern is being held on $100,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear at Harbor Justice Center on Nov. 30.
