An 18-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of insurance fraud, authorities said. Police Officer II Christopher Carnahan was taken into custody following an internal probe into workers’ compensation claims and was booked into jail with bail set at $100,000.
According to CBS Los Angeles, detectives with the LAPD’s Special Operations Division Major Complaint Unit examined claims Carnahan filed in 2023 and 2025. Working with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Healthcare Fraud Division, investigators developed probable cause that he “engaged in conduct inconsistent with the injuries described.” The outlet reports Carnahan was booked on two counts of insurance fraud and notes that the Major Complaint Unit focuses on workers’ compensation fraud, benefits abuse and related misconduct.
How Investigators Build Cases
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Healthcare Fraud Division routinely handles prosecutions involving benefits and health care fraud, often partnering with police investigators on workers’ compensation cases, according to a press release from the County of Los Angeles. Past local investigations have shown authorities leaning on medical-record reviews, surveillance and cross-agency cooperation to test whether reported injuries line up with a claimant’s day-to-day activity, as detailed in prior LAPD cases covered by WorkCompAcademy. When those tools suggest benefits were improperly claimed, they often form the backbone of criminal referrals or prosecutions.
A Pattern Among First Responders
Carnahan’s arrest arrives amid a series of cases involving current and former public-safety employees accused of abusing insurance or disability benefits. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2025 that a former LAPD reserve officer was charged in an alleged staged crash and later investigated on related allegations, a case that renewed scrutiny of how officers’ claims are monitored. In recent years, county and city prosecutors have pursued similar allegations involving other emergency personnel, keeping the spotlight on how agencies verify and process benefits requests.
Legal Stakes
Prosecutors most often pursue insurance-fraud allegations under California Penal Code section 550, which covers false or fraudulent claims and related conduct. According to a code summary on Justia, Penal Code section 550 can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the value and circumstances of the alleged fraud. A felony conviction can bring two, three or five years in custody and substantial fines. Convictions also typically include restitution orders and can carry collateral consequences for employment and professional licenses.
Carnahan remains in custody and is expected to appear for further proceedings in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
