Cypress Inspector Held in Suspected Bribery

An engineer whose job is to examine public works plans for the city of Cypress has been arrested on suspicion of accepting a bribe, authorities said.

Alfonso Castro Cornelio was arrested Monday afternoon after meeting at a local restaurant with a would-be developer who had informed police that the engineer had asked for cash to reduce building permit fees. In a series of telephone calls, the 35-year-old informant--whom police did not identify--agreed to pay the bribe and cooperated with investigators by meeting with Cornelio while plainclothes officers observed, authorities said.

“We are doing a complete and thorough investigation to find out if it’s happened before and if he worked in concert with anybody else,” City Manager Mark Ochenduszko said. The city will bring in an outside auditor to review all of its financial records and procedures, he said. “We are going to do a comprehensive review and prosecute to the full extent of the law. . . . We are very embarrassed by this.”

Ochenduszko would not say how long Cornelio has worked for the city or give other details except to say that the engineer has been placed on administrative leave.

Late Monday, Cornelio was being held at the Cypress City Jail on $10,000 bail.