U.S. Attorney: Lakewood officer stole $150K from fallen officers' fund

A police officer from Lakewood is facing 10 federal felonies on accusations he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fund intended to benefit the families of the four Lakewood Police Department officers killed in 2009.

Skeeter Timothy Manos, 34, was arrested at Lakewood City Hall on Wednesday morning, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. He was scheduled to make an initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon.

“This is a sad day for our community,” U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said. “These acts betrayed the memory of our fallen heroes, their families, fellow officers and all who supported the fund. I commend the Lakewood police and the Pierce County prosecutor for coming forward promptly with evidence of these crimes.”

According to a news release from the Attorney’s Office, Manos set up a secret bank account while serving as the treasurer of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild. The account was distinct from the primary account established by the Guild for donations that were to go to the officers’ families.

Manos diverted about $151,000 in intended donations to the secret account and used about $120,000 of the money on purchases at Costco, Home Depot, for Alaska Airlines tickets to Las Vegas and for cash withdrawals at various casinos, the Attorney’s Office said. Some of the cash withdrawals were made at the Bellagio casino in April 2010 and at the Hawks Prairie Casino in December 2010.

The stolen money was just a portion of $3.2 million in funds contributed by the public to the fallen officers’ fund, the Attorney’s Office said.

Investigators told KIRO 7 they believe Manos' motive for taking the money was "pure greed."

KIRO 7 uncovered file footage of Manos from almost exactly two years ago when he testified in the state Legislature about reforming benefits for the families of fallen officers.

"Me, personally, I want my children to have a father figure if I die," he said then.