Sallisaw Police Chief Arrested For Embezzling $60

An Oklahoma police chief has been jailed for borrowing public money for his own use and is being held on a felony embezzlement complaint.

Sallisaw Police Chief Shaloa Edwards was suspended by the city council in February and had his supervisory rights stripped. He turned himself in on a new arrest warrant on Friday.

The City of Sallisaw elects its police chief, and Edwards has served in that capacity since 2005. He sued the city earlier this year for improper suspension. Supporters of Edwards have been upset because they believe the power to strip an elected official of power does not lie with the city council, but with the voting public.

03/02/2013 Related Story: Sallisaw Residents Gather To Criticize Police Chief's Punishment

Edwards admitted borrowing $60 in petty cash from the police department for a few small purchases like lunch. The city manager said the money was paid back, and despite support from the public, a warrant was issued for Edwards' arrest.

"I've lived here all of my life," Sallisaw resident Kenny Howell said. "I've known Shaloa and his whole family my entire life. It just kind of blows me away. I mean it just seems kind of petty... all this is supposedly over $60 ...it shouldn't be that big of a deal, but they seem to be taking it to the next level."

Edwards is still police chief, even though he was booked into jail on a felony count of embezzling public money.