Investigation into GBI supervisor extends to local police department

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A high-ranking police officer says he had no clue that items he says his girlfriend gave him may have been illegally purchased with a GBI purchase card.

Sandy Springs police Capt. Rob Stevens is not accused of any wrongdoing but still resigned from his department Thursday afternoon.

Investigators say Stevens willingly surrendered several items given to him by his girlfriend, GBI Supervisor Sandra Putnam, after informing his chief about the investigation. %

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“He contacted the department, said, ‘This is what's going on. Wanted to let you guys know that they’re serving a search warrant at her house,’ and the following day he was advised to bring anything in that she may have given him,” Sandy Springs Deputy Chief Keith Zgonc said.

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Putnam is accused of using state purchase cards to fraudulently purchase thousands of dollars worth of stuff over the past three years.

The Sandy Springs Police Department is holding the evidence until the GBI takes custody of it.

"They do believe that some of the items are things that they've already identified as things that were fraudulently obtained," Zgonc told Channel 2's Mark Winne.

"I humbly resigned my position as a captain with the Sandy Springs Police Department. I did so on good terms and in good standing."

It adds, "This was a mutual decision in order to avoid any sort of departmental controversy or unnecessary distraction."

He continues to say, “A person close to me made some extremely poor decisions as I am finding out by the hour … I was betrayed and now left heartbroken. I forgive this person and will pray steadfastly for them."

GBI agent Scott Dutton says agents confirmed nearly every item removed from Putnam's house on a search warrant had been fraudulently purchased with state purchasing cards. The GBI wants to interview Stevens, but he's not accused of anything at this point. %

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“Obviously there's indications that it very well may be connected to purchases made by Sandra with her purchasing card, however we’ve gotta go back and match things up with actual invoices to see how they were actually purchased. That has not happened yet. But right now it’s considered evidence,” Dutton said.

In his post, Stevens said, “I never took what was not mine.”

Dutton says Putnam is cooperating with the GBI investigation

Dutton says nobody's formally charged with anything at this point and that decision may not come for a couple weeks.

Putnam, one of the GBI’s highest ranking agents and once a star on the rise, resigned Thursday as well.

Cox Media Group