BUENA PARK : Police Detective Faces Theft Charges

A Buena Park police detective was charged Monday with one count of felony grand theft in connection with the theft of $970 from a Garden Grove house he had searched while on duty, authorities said.

John T. Mallos, 30, of Ontario, has been placed on paid administrative leave. He has agreed to surrender at his arraignment hearing, scheduled for Friday in West Orange Municipal Court in Westminster, Buena Park Police Chief Richard Tefank said.

Tefank and district attorney’s officials said Mallos had a warrant to search a house owned by Dorothy Smith on July 22, 1989. Officials would not provide details of the search beyond saying that several items were seized.

On Feb. 21, 1990, Smith complained to Buena Park police that Mallos had cashed a $660 money order taken from her house. Another $310 in cash was also missing, Tefank said.

Tefank said the department referred the report to the district attorney’s office, which routinely investigates complaints against police officers.

Tefank said the department will perform an administrative investigation to determine the “level of additional action to be taken.”

Neither Mallos, who has been with the department for four years, nor his attorney was available for comment Monday.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Donna Crandall said that Mallos has denied stealing anything but that she could not comment on details of the case.

“He served the search warrant and he cashed the postal money order,” Crandall said. “The fact that we filed charges speaks for itself.”

If he is found guilty, Mallos could face a sentence of up to three years in prison.