Deputy caught on camera shoplifting

SANTA FE (KRQE) - A Santa Fe County sheriff’s lieutenant is accused of shoplifting a $20 item from a Kmart and it could end up costing him is career.

Sheriff's Lt. Jeremy Garcia was charged with shoplifting Tuesday morning, which is a misdemeanor. Santa Fe Police Captain Aric Wheeler said surveillance cameras caught Garcia shoplifting car wax products from Kmart on St. Michaels Drive.

“My understanding is that he removed the item from a package and the item was then concealed in a pocket and he was actually confronted by loss-prevention officers in the store,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said the item is Garcia is accused of stashing in is pocket is used to erase scratches off of car paint and carries a price tag of $19.99.

Garcia was released Tuesday morning, but his troubles are not over yet. The veteran lawman has been with the sheriff's department for almost 16 years. He is the supervisor of the patrol unit.

Sheriff Robert Garcia said what the lieutenant is accused of doing is against department policy.

“It's even hard to find the words to explain how shocking this is,” Garcia said. “I'm very disappointed.”

Police handed over the surveillance video to the sheriff's department. It will be used in their internal investigation.