A former police officer from Ventura County faces two counts of felony grand theft, with allegations against him spanning over nearly two years, officials confirmed. Randi Breon Vines, who previously served with the Oxnard Police Department, is accused of using a city-issued credit card to fuel his vehicle, amounting to over $3,300, and stealing around $1,200 in cash from an arrestee in May 2024, as detailed by KTLA. The accusations call into question the integrity of those sworn to uphold the law and cast a shadow on the department's operations.
According to a KTLA report, the alleged thefts occurred between September 2022 and May 2024, and Vines pled not guilty in Ventura County Superior Court on Tuesday. Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko emphasized the gravity of the charges citing, “Police officers are entrusted to protect and serve the community.” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko added, "When that trust is violated, they must be held accountable.” The Oxnard Police Department led the investigation into the incidents, with Chief Jason Benites asserting that no one, including department employees, should be above the law.
The details of the case reveal that the stolen cash was taken from an envelope in the possession of an arrestee, a violation of procedure and trust. In a statement made by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, it was stated that “Vines was given possession of the arrestee's personal property, which included cash, following the arrest of the man by the Oxnard Police Department. Prior to booking the suspect into the Ventura County Jail, Vines is accused of stealing most of the arrestee’s cash from an envelope.” Senior Deputy District Attorney Tony Wold, part of the Public Integrity Unit, is set to prosecute the case.