Former N.Ky. police chief released after allegedly stealing $115K from department

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A former Northern Kentucky police chief will be released Monday after he allegedly stole more than $100,000 from the police department where he was employed.

U.S. Marshals arrested former Highland Heights police chief Carl Mullen Friday night after the 49-year-old allegedly schemed to defraud his own department out of more than $100,000 over an almost two-year period, according to a news release from the United States Department of Justice.

Mullen allegedly used credit cards in the name of the Highland Heights Southgate Police Authority and in the names of other members of his police department to steal about $115,000, according to the Department of Justice. Mullen allegedly stole the money from January 2010 through November 2011.

Mullen obtained the money in cash advances using the cards and pocketed the money, according to the indictment. Mullen then falsely claimed the funds were for legitimate police investigations, the indictment detailed.

Mullen was charged with one count of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment Friday.

During Mullen's detention hearing Monday morning, a judge decided to release him on the condition that he wears an electronic monitoring device. With the device, Mullen can go anywhere in the eastern district of Kentucky and the Tri-State area.

The charges came about after Highland Heights mayor Gregory Meyers asked the FBI to investigate an accounting discrepancy in the budget of the Highland Heights-Southgate Police Authority in February.

The discrepancy was discovered while Meyers was reviewing city financial records.

Officials will transport Mullen to Boone County Jail where he will be released Monday.

Mullen faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the charges.

Mullen is scheduled to appear for preliminary hearings on Aug. 6 and Aug. 12.