Authorities Charge Cop With Filching ATM Card

An allegedly thieving police officer was one of the first people arrested by Miami's new public corruption squad, and stands accused of stealing $460 from an accident victim after stealing and using his ATM card, according to the Miami Herald.

Authorities charge that Christian Alvarez-Vega, a 12-year veteran of the Miami Police Department, called the accident victim's bank to ask for his PIN number — saying he needed it as part of a police investigation. Alvarez-Vega faces federal charges of identity theft and depriving an individual of his civil rights in the Jan. 11 incident.

An affidavit unsealed by the Miami office of the U.S. Attorney's Office said Alvarez-Vega took a car accident victim to a hospital and found his ATM card, which he then obtained the number for and used at an ATM to withdraw the cash. He faces a maximum of six years in prison if convicted.

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado launched the public corruption initiative as part of a vow to end what he called a culture of municipal corruption. Two other policemen and a city administrator were arrested on other charges.