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CMPD Says Officer Accused Of Shoplifting Has Resigned

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says an officer who was arrested and charged with shoplifting has resigned from the department and that the former officer is facing additional charges for shoplifting.

Samuel Yaravitz, who joined CMPD in 1999, has been charged in an additional 42 shoplifting cases. CMPD says Yaravitz resigned from the department May 14. He had previously been charged with seven counts of shoplifting at a south Charlotte Harris Teeter and placed on leave without pay while the case was being investigated. 

CMPD now says these new shoplifting cases occurred at five different Harris Teeter locations across the city. The department says its detectives presented these cases to the magistrate’s office which issued 42 criminal summonses for misdemeanor larceny. Yaravitz is charged with a total of 49 counts of misdemeanor larceny.  

CMPD says this is an ongoing investigation and additional charges may be forthcoming.

In a statement after Yaravitz's initial arrest, CMPD Police Chief Kerr Putney said he was disappointed.

“I don’t know his records," Putney said at the time. "It’s irrelevant to me at the moment. What I know he did do is commit a crime, at least seven occasions where he shoplifted. I will tell you this, too, we have some fantastic people who are doing great work and it’s disappointing that he would in any way taint that image.”

Putney said the thefts, most of which were of food items, occurred over three months and it’s not yet clear whether the officer was on duty during the incidents. Putney also said Yaravitz was driving a police car during some of the episodes. 

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