Sallisaw Police Officer Arrested For Stealing Then Selling Cattle

NewsOn6.com

SALLISAW, Oklahoma -- An 8-year veteran of the Sallisaw Police Department, Wendel Hughes, was arrested Wednesday morning on 31 charges of larceny of domestic animals.

According to a news release, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Investigative Services in conjunction with the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office began an investigation on December 14, 2010 into theft of 178 cattle that had been stolen over a three-year period.

As a result of that investigation, deputies say they found all the cattle were sold in Hughes' name at multiple locations.

Deputies arrested the 35-year-old police officer Wednesday morning and booked him into the Sequoyah County jail.

He was released on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on February 28, 2011.