The Fairfax County Police Department said Friday that an officer faces two counts of misdemeanor shoplifting after stealing from two Target stores.
Both shoplifting incidents took place on Sept. 22, police said Friday in a news release.
Master Police Officer Scott Abram, 44, is accused of using the barcode of a less expensive item to hide the barcode of a more expensive item while checking out of a Target in Burke before exiting the store with both items around 1 p.m.
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Officer Abram was in uniform and on duty at the time of the first incident, police said.
Staff at another Target at the Springfield Town Center shopping mall alleged that Officer Abram committed a similar act of shoplifting at their store around 5 p.m. the same day. At that time, Officer Abram, a 23-year veteran of the department and a part of the school resource officer unit, was off duty, police said.
Sources familiar with the investigation told WJLA-TV that the merchandise Officer Abram is accused of shoplifting was “Magic: The Gathering” trading and playing cards.
Police said Officer Abram was put on administrative leave after the department learned about the two incidents. The department told FFXNow that he is going to retire effective Oct. 16 instead of being terminated.
Officer Abram most recently worked at Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria, according to WJLA-TV.
Officer Abram was charged Thursday and released on a criminal summons. Police did not say when he is due to appear in court.
“I am disheartened that a police officer has betrayed the public trust with these intentional acts of criminal misconduct. It is unacceptable, and I will not tolerate it,” police Chief Kevin Davis said in the release.
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