HOUSTON—A Houston police officer is accused of stealing money from citizens during traffic stops.
Officer Mathais Dornellien, 24, is charged with theft by a public servant, a third-degree felony.
After receiving a complaint about Dornellien, HPD’s Internal Affairs Department set up a sting operation in which an undercover officer posed as a citizen in a traffic stop.
When Officer Dornellien pulled the undercover officer over, investigators said Dornellien made the officer get out of the car, and then reached into the officer’s pockets, taking more than $100 in marked bills.
Investigators said other officers stopped Dornellien shortly after he left the scene of the traffic stop, and detectives recovered the marked cash.
If convicted of theft by a public servant, Dornellien could face from two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Dornellien was relieved of duty with pay after his arrest on Friday. He has been with HPD since 2009.
