ST PAUL, Minn. — A Ramsey County Sheriff's sergeant is charged with theft and misconduct of an officer after he allegedly stole cash and items from a home while executing a search warrant.
A criminal complaint details the charges against 45-year-old Jason Degerstrom, who prosecutors say was caught on video from a motion-activated camera in a suspect's bedroom.
When the suspect contacted authorities about the theft Ramsey County Sheriff's officials immediately called their counterparts in Hennepin County to handle the investigation. Detectives reviewed the warrant and inventory documents from the search, then watched the video and allegedly saw Degerstrom searching the room for an extended period of time, then stealing a phone charger and cash from a purse.
The resident of the home told investigators there was $1,000 cash in the purse, but only $552 was inventoried following the search.
When questioned Degerstrom denied taking anything, but when confronted with the video admitted to taking the phone cord, telling detectives it "was stupid." He continued to insist he did not take any money.
The sergeant was placed on leave from the department April 2 pending the outcome of the investigation.
"The alleged conduct outlined in the charging documents is troubling and will not be tolerated by this administration," said a statement released by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. "We will continue to demand that our staff act within the law and uphold the trust placed in us by the community."
