Leaders in a small town in Iowa, including the current mayor and chief of police, face nearly two dozen charges after a multi-year investigation into alleged irregularities.
The multi-year investigation into Armstrong’s mayor Greg Buum, police chief Craig Merrill, city employee Tracie Lang and former employee Connie Thackery found the suspects implanting a Taser against a civilian in exchange for money, filed public records fraudulent, embezzled municipal funds, false records to hide embezzlement and get involved in other crimes, officials said on Friday.
It was not clear on Saturday how much money was taken from the city, which is home to about 945 people and about 150 miles northwest of Des Moines.
Buum, Merrill, Lang and Thackery were charged with 21 crimes and misdemeanors, according to Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, one of the agencies that led the investigation after Armstrong irregularities first came to light in early 2017.
The main charge against Buum, Merrill and Thackery is an ongoing charge of criminal conduct, said the sheriff’s office. Lang’s highest score is fraudulent practice in the first degree, according to authorities.
Three suspects, Buum, Lang and Thackery, were in custody until Friday, the sheriff’s office said. Merrill’s status was unclear.
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office, which will process cases at the request of the local county attorney due to a potential conflict of interest, could not be reached immediately by phone or email on Saturday to clarify whether the suspects got a lawyer or an appeal came in.
