$151,000 embezzled from Lakewood fallen officers fund

The Treasurer of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild has been arrested for embezzlement.

Skeeter Timothy Manos allegedly diverted $151,000 from a fund intended to benefit the families of four police officers who were killed by gunman Maurice Clemmons in 2009.

Skeeter was arrested this morning at Lakewood City Hall. He’ll appear in Federal Court in Tacoma this afternoon to face ten federal felony charges.

U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan called it a sad day for the community:

"These acts betrayed the memories of our fallen heroes, their families, fellow officers and all who supported the fund. I commend the Lakewood Police and the Pierce County Prosecutor for coming forward promptly with the evidence of these crimes."

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the criminal complaint alleges Manos took $151,000 intended for a fund set up for the officers' families and diverted it to a secret bank account.

$120,000 from the secret account was used for purchases at Costco, Home Depot, Alaska Airlines tickets to Las Vegas and cash withdrawals at various casinos.

The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Lakewood Police Department and the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office.

The amount embezzled is a small portion of the more than $3.2 million the public donated in the aftermath of the 2009 shootings.