The following is a news release from the Bakersfield Police Department:
On Wednesday, July 18, 2012, Bakersfield Police Officer Patrick Lefler was arrested at the Bakersfield Police Department and booked into the Kern County Jail for violation of PC 496(a) possession of stolen property, PC 653m(a) annoying telephone calls, and PC 118.1 false report.
On Sunday, June 10, 2012, the victim contacted the Kern County Sheriff’s Office to report she was the victim of a grand theft where several personal items were stolen from her unlocked vehicle. On July 7, 2012 a Deputy with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office made a traffic stop on a reported city stolen vehicle. During the investigation, the victim’s property was found in the stolen vehicle. Officer Patrick Lefler was dispatched to assist the deputy, and during the investigation Officer Lefler seized the victim’s property.
On July 17, 2012 the Bakersfield Police Department initiated a criminal investigation after receiving information that a Bakersfield Police officer was refusing to return the victim’s stolen property. Subsequent investigation revealed that Officer Lefler sent the victim several text messages with sexual connotation. Officer Lefler also sent the victim text messages letting her know that he was holding her property because he wanted to meet her in person and engage in
sexual intercourse with her.
During the investigation it was also discovered that Officer Lefler falsified his report by indicating that he returned the property to the victim. However, he never returned the property to the victim and did not book the property until July 16, 2012, with the exception of her driver’s license. A search warrant was obtained for Officer Lefler’s residence and patrol vehicle, but the victim’s driver’s license was not located.
Officer Lefler has been an officer for the Department since August of 2009. Officer Lefler is currently on paid administrative leave. There are no other known victims at this time. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call Detective William Hughes at 326-3501 or Detective Rick Dossey at 326-3513.
