The Barrow County Chief Deputy Tax Commissioner was arrested Thursday on charges of felony theft by taking following an investigation into missing cash receipts.
Patricia Ritchie, 59, of Winder, was taken into custody Thursday by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and bond has yet to be set after charges were brought forward of alleged theft, according to spokesman Todd Druse.
Tax Commissioner Jessica Garrett contacted the county sheriff’s office on Nov. 2 after she noticed missing cash receipts from the motor vehicle account. The criminal investigations division has been actively looking into the allegations and was able to secure a single arrest warrant for theft by taking, Druse said.
No other accounts have reportedly been compromised within the tax commissioner's office.
Precise amounts resulting from the thefts are unknown at this time, but investigators have confirmed that more than $25,000 was taken.
“All motor vehicle transactions were processed correctly and everyone’s tags are valid,” Garrett said in a reminder to the public.
