Altoona

(Altoona, AL - July 29, 2009) In a press release today, Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin says Altoona Police Department employee Jeffery D Holiday has been arrested and charged with theft of property. The police department requested that the sheriff's office conduct a special investigation involving a theft of property.

Etowah County Sheriff's Department investigator Josh Morgan says that Holiday has been "charged with one count of second degree theft of property, which is a felony." At the time of the theft, the 39 year old Holiday was employed with the Altoona Police Department. He has been relieved of his duties.

According to Altoona Police Chief Anthony Davis, Holiday was served with protection from abuse papers sometime in June. Shortly after that, Holiday's wife contacted the Etowah County Sheriff's Office about two handguns Holiday had left at the house. Those handguns, according to Chief Davis, had been taken from his department's evidence locker.

Holiday was placed on administrative leave until the conclusion of the investigation, and eventually resigned his position as a part-time police officer with the City of Altoona on July 7. A warrant was served on Holiday for the theft charges sometime in the past seven days or so, according to Davis. The chief says his former officer has already bonded out of county jail.

Davis stressed that he asked the Sheriff's office to conduct the investigation to protect the integrity of his deparment. "I don't want anyone to think we would cover anything up in our department, we have excellent officers who serve and protect the people of Altoona." Davis says he has no idea what Holiday's motive was in the theft.