City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Employee Arrested NR12232kr

May 21, 2012

Los Angeles: A City employee and a City resident were both arrested after a lengthy investigation into gasoline thefts from City fueling facilities.

In April 2012 Southeast Detectives received information that someone was stealing gasoline from City fueling facilities and the suspect was possibly a Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks employee.  Surveillance was set up on fuel stations at Southeast  and 77th Street Area Community Police Stations and a Department of Transportation fueling site.  After many hours of surveillance two suspects were identified.

On May 21, 2012, 46-year-old Michael Anthony Lee, a 12-year veteran of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, assigned to Algin Sutton Recreation Center, and an accomplice, 47-year-old Shane Anthony Gansterer, a resident of Los Angeles, were arrested by Southeast Detectives.  Lee was booked for Embezzlement and is being held on $50,000 bail.  Gansterer was booked for Receiving Stolen Property and is being held on $20,000 bail.  Lee was reportedly on duty when the thefts occurred.  He is believed responsible for stealing more than 800 gallons of gasoline over a three month period of time.     

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Southeast Detective Division, Detective Michael Hansen at (213) 972-7813.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.