Flammable fraud? LA parks employee arrested for alleged gas theft

Photo by The Webhamster via Flickr Creative Commons

Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby can you dig it?

It's not the grass, however, that led authorities to arrest a 12-year employee of the Los Angeles recreation and parks department.

Officials say they believe the long-time worker stole more than 800 gallons of gasoline while on duty over a period of three months.

46-year-old Michael Anthony Lee was arrested Monday for investigation of stealing gasoline from city fueling facilities and booked for investigation of embezzlement.

He is being held on $50,000 bail, say police. A second individual, Shane Gansterer, was also arrested and booked for receiving stolen property.

Drag city.

Lisa Brenner can be reached via Twitter @lisa_brenner