Ex-Lakewood policeman who stole from fallen officers fund arrested in new theft case

Skeeter Manos, a former Lakewood police officer who stole from a fund set up for the families of four fallen officers, was arrested Monday in connection to a new theft case.

Tacoma police began investigating Manos in December after a local construction company he was working for accused him of stealing $2,500.

The company claimed the theft stretched from July to December after they gave him a credit card to buy tools and other supplies for job sites he was managing.

Police said the company was aware of Manos’ prior conviction and put in place certain safeguards to keep him from stealing. Those included email alerts sent to the owner every time the credit card was used.

It appears Manos figured out how to change where the email alerts were sent, police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said.

The alleged scheme was simple: Manos would buy tools and supplies, return them to the store and pocket gift cards from the returned merchandise.

No one at the company answered the phone Monday. Manos no longer works there.

Manos, who was aware he was under investigation, turned himself in to the Pierce County Jail on Monday with his attorney. He was booked on suspicion of second-degree theft.

Pierce County prosecutors said they might make a charging decision Tuesday.

Manos made headlines in 2012 when he admitted stealing $112,000 from a charity set up for the families of four Lakewood officers gunned down in 2009.

He served as treasurer of the Lakewood police guild at the time and had access to the fund set up after Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards were killed at a Parkland coffee shop.

Prosecutors said Manos spent the stolen money on a Las Vegas vacation, gambling, outdoors gear, household items and guild tax penalties.

He also pleaded guilty to charges that he passed himself off as a local accountant to hide his fraud.

Manos was sentenced to 33 months in prison.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Ex-Lakewood policeman who stole from fallen officers fund arrested in new theft case."