The former second-highest ranking member of the Denver Sheriff’s Department has been charged with a slew of felonies, including shoplifting from area Target stores.
Michael Than, 46, turned himself in to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office on Friday on a warrant for felony theft of $20,000 or more, tax evasion and filing false tax returns, according to court documents.
He was indicted by a grand jury in connection with thefts that allegedly began in 2010 and continued through 2013.
DOCUMENT: Read the indictment in the Michael Than felony theft case
A source who has seen the case told The Denver Post that Than was captured on Target surveillance cameras stealing tax software by hiding it in bags of dog food he legitimately purchased. He then sold the software.
Than posted a $10,000 bond, according to court records.
Than was division chief in charge of the Downtown Division until Dec. 20, when he was placed on leave and immediately resigned.
His duties included overseeing the Downtown Denver Detention Center, court services, the civil process unit and the Correctional Care Medical Facility, according to the department’s website.
“The city and agency has treated my family and I remarkably over the past 21 years,” Than wrote in his resignation letter, a short e-mail to Sheriff Gary Wilson that he said came after “a lot of thought and consideration.”
Than could not be reached for comment Monday.
The indictment is yet another embarrassment to a department that has seen several high-profile misconduct issues, including one of its own deputies helping a convicted felon escape from jail, escorting him out in a sheriff’s uniform.
Authorities continue to investigate a suicide that took place April 21 when an inmate hanged himself.
The sheriff’s department revamped its policies on dealing with inmate allegations of deputy misconduct in early December after the city’s independent monitor criticized officials for failing to formally investigate dozens of serious complaints of excessive force, sexual abuse and bias.
A lawsuit was filed by the family of Marvin Booker, a homeless street preacher, who was being processed into the jail on July 9, 2010, on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia when he got into a scuffle with a deputy and died.
Responding deputies shocked Booker with a Taser, struck him in the legs, put him in a carotid “sleeper hold” and lay on top of him in an effort to control him before he stopped breathing.
Ryan Parker: 303-954-2409, rparker@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ryanparkerdp