Charlottesville Police Officer Arrested for Embezzlement

CBS19 has learned that a Charlottesville Police Officer was arrested for embezzlement Wednesday morning. Officer Wilbert Brassfield has been charged with 3 felony counts of embezzlement. December 21, 2011 CBS19 has learned that a Charlottesville Police Officer was arrested for embezzlement Wednesday morning. Officer Wilbert Brassfield has been charged with 3 felony counts of embezzlement. Virginia State Police's Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Appomattox Field Office arrested Wilbert Davis Brassfield in Fluvanna County without incident on three felony counts of embezzlement. The charges stem from an investigation of missing money from the Courts of Praise Christian Fellowship located in Fluvanna County. Over $10,000 was found to be withdrawn from the church's bank account without approval or knowledge of church leaders. 47-year-old Wilbert Brassfield of Palmyra, was the pastor of the church from its inception in 2006 until 2010. After the arrest, Charlottesville Police released the following email: On September 7th 2011, our Department was made aware of an ongoing financial investigation by the Virginia State Police that involved one of our Officers, Wilbert D. Brassfield. We were informed at that time Officer Brassfield was not considered a target of the investigation and the investigation was unrelated to his employment as an Officer with the Charlottesville Police Department. Officer Brassfield has been employed as an Officer with our Department since January 2001. On November 2nd 2011, we were made aware that the VSP investigation had been completed and that Officer Brassfield had in fact become a target of the investigation and that indictments would be sought against him in the December Grand Jury in Fluvanna County Circuit Court. On November 3rd 2011, Officer Brassfield was placed on administrative leave with pay and his police authority was suspended. On December 21th 2011, our Department was informed that the Virginia State Police had served three felony indictments on Wilbert D. Brassfield for the charge of embezzlement. CBS19 reached out to the Church who said they are temporarily closed but would not provide further details.