Mount Airy police are investigating the alleged embezzlement of more than $13,000 from one of the area’s largest churches.
The crime was reported last week by an official of Central United Methodist Church at 1909 N. Main St., who advised that an employee there had used a credit card for unauthorized purchases and payments.
The crime allegedly was committed by a female employee of Central United Methodist, whom Police Chief Dale Watson said worked in a “fiduciary capacity” that provided access to its finances.
“This person had access to a church purchasing card,” said R.B. Davis of the city police Detective Division, which is investigating the case.
“It did transpire over a period of time,” the detective added of the suspected embezzlement.
The exact sum taken is said to be $13,473, which included both cash and credit card funds, according to police records.
A portion of the missing proceeds has been repaid, according to Watson.
Meanwhile, no charges have been filed in the case pending further review.
“We’ll be contacting the District Attorney’s Office to get their advice” on which way to proceed from here, the police chief explained Monday.
Police records indicate that the alleged wrongdoing was discovered in January, but there was no word Monday on how it came to light. Mount Airy attorney Ed Woltz, whose family has long been associated with Central United Methodist Church, reported the matter to police.
The church’s congregation is said to have been advised of the situation in an announcement Sunday morning.
Questions to the church Monday afternoon regarding the case were referred to Allen Edwards, lay leader at Central United Methodist, who could not be reached for comment.
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