A former Woodridge patrol officer accused of stealing more than $30,000 from a police charity has been arrested in Missouri, nearly five months after a warrant was issued.Scott Webb, a 10-year-veteran of the Woodridge department, was sought on a $250,000-bail arrest warrant on accusations that he never donated more than $30,000 raised during two events to support families of fallen officers.
He had not been heard from since the warrant was issued in late May, but a police officer in Branson, Mo., ran Webb’s information during a routine traffic stop and spotted the arrest warrant Tuesday, according to authorities.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said he learned early Wednesday morning of Webb’s arrest.
“We’re obviously very pleased,” Berlin said. “He’s been on the run for quite a few months now, so we’re pleased that justice will now take its due course.”
Webb, of Romeoville, is accused of taking funds from the “Crawlin’ for the Fallen” pub-crawl fundraiser in 2009 and 2010, which were hosted by the Woodridge Police Association.
“My understanding is that he’s waived extradition, and we expect him to be back here sometime early next week,” Berlin said Wednesday afternoon. “I am not sure exactly when they’re going to be able to get him back here.”
Rumors began to swirl in the Woodridge department during the summer of 2010 that Webb never mailed in the money raised by the events. Webb was placed on paid leave in August 2010, when village officials launched an investigation.
He resigned from the department in March, and come late May when he was indicted on two counts of felony theft, Webb could not be found.
Woodridge Mayor William Murphy and Police Chief Steven Herron issued a joint statement two days after the indictment pleading for anyone with information to help police locate Webb.
The stolen funds were intended for the Illinois chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, a nonprofit that helps send families of fallen officers on trips to Washington, D.C., where their loved ones are honored.
Craig Figgins, president of the organization’s Illinois chapter, said the Crawlin’ for the Fallen event generated a “sizable amount” of funds for the group and “a lot of good has come from them.” According to the charity’s website, the Woodridge police union has donated $47,000, nearly double the amount of next-largest donor listed.
Webb, who last lived on the 1700 block of Rebecca Drive in Romeoville, faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
