Former Palos Heights commissioner faces theft charge
Sun-Times Media September 1, 2012 1:36PM
Updated: October 4, 2012 6:15AM
The former building commissioner in Palos Heights has been charged with theft for allegedly pocketing $600 in fines and permit fees paid by a business owner.
James Dougherty turned himself into Palos Heights police and released on a $1,500 recognizance bond, according to a news release issued Friday by Palos Heights Police. Dougherty is scheduled to appear in court in Bridgeview on Oct. 23.
The department said investigators reviewed records and interviewed several potential victims. It’s alleged that Dougherty collected the money on July 25, but never remitted the money to the city and didn’t issue a receipt to the business owner, according to the news release.
“We are disappointed that someone who was put in a position of trust within our city would betray that trust. We immediately asked the police to investigate once this was brought to our attention,” Palos Heights Mayor Robert Straz said in the release. “We will not tolerate this sort of behavior in our great city.”
