The Union County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest in the case of missing funds from a local middle school's parent-teacher organization. Michelle Thomas, the 52-year-old treasurer of Piedmont Middle School's PTO in Union County, is facing charges of embezzlement after it was discovered that she allegedly appropriated over $1,500 for her personal use, as reported by QC News.

Investigators were alerted to the situation after reports of irregularities with the school PTO's financial records began surfacing, leading to a closer scrutiny of the financial transactions connected to the organization's accounts; during the investigation, it was determined that Thomas had been involved in non-essential purchases using the funds meant for school-related activities, this according to a statement obtained by WYFF4.

After being booked at the Union County Detention Center, Thomas was granted an unsecured bond set at $1,500—the same amount she is accused of embezzling. Details surrounding the arrest were further outlined in the WBTV coverage of the story, which mentions that the investigation by the sheriff's office is still ongoing.

 The authorities are currently reaching out to the community in search of anyone who may possess additional information about the case. Those with relevant knowledge about these events are urged to contact 704-283-3789 or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600, as the Union County Sheriff's office continues its efforts to ascertain the full extent of this alleged embezzlement. Ensuring that justice is served and that the community can regain its trust in the guardians of their children's educational environment is the top priority.