An Oxford firefighter/paramedic was arrested April 9 at downtown’s Fire Station #1 for allegedly stealing nearly $400 in merchandise from a Wal-Mart store in Rochester Hills back in late August 2014.
Susan Leigh Van Heck, 44, of Lake Orion, was arraigned in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court on the misdemeanor charge of second-degree retail fraud.
She was released from the Oakland County Jail after posting a $400 cash bond.
Van Heck doesn’t deny she stole the items. She explained the incident was caused by depression stemming from her father’s death in 2012 and physical pain from a hip injury. She said she’s receiving counseling for it.
‘I’ve been working on (my personal issues) for the last eight months,? Van Heck said. ‘For eight months, it’s been awesome. I’ve been back to work. I got my hip replaced (in October). I’m in no pain. Life has been wonderful the last eight months.?
As a result of the arrest, Fire Chief Pete Scholz placed Van Heck, who’s been a paid-on-call member of the department since 2005, ‘on leave? until this matter is resolved, meaning she is not allowed to respond to calls or participate in any department-related activities.
‘I just think it’s better for the department and for her,? Scholz said. ‘You don’t need the rumor mill going around while she’s still here . . . I don’t want to subject her to that. And at the same, I think it’s better for the community not to have her going on calls or being affiliated with the department right now.?
If convicted of the crime, Scholz said Van Heck would be terminated.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s report, on Aug. 22, 2014, Wal-Mart’s loss prevention officer observed Van Heck leave the store with a cart full of assorted items, none of which were in Wal-Mart bags.
When the officer reviewed the store’s security video footage, it showed Van Heck ‘walk right by all points of purchase? and out the doors, the report stated.
Based on the report, Van Heck allegedly stole a liter bottle of Kahlua, a liter bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, a cake, a bag of cheese, a loaf of French bread, two salads, women’s cosmetics, four bottles of detergent, a dog leash, two packages of dog treats, a package of dog chew bones, two 24-pound bags of dog food, a bottle of tonic water, a bottle of club soda, a container of parmesan cheese, three bags of corn chips, a can of beans, a can of artichoke hearts, a box of hand towels, a jar of mayonnaise, a package of paper plates, a bottle of hair conditioner, a bottle of shampoo, three bottles of wine, four 12-packs of soda pop, a liter bottle of margarita mix, and two cases of beer.
The sheriff’s report stated Van Heck confessed to deputies that she took the items without paying for them.
When interviewed, Van Heck told deputies, ‘I have a problem,? according to the report. She ‘went on to say she has a sickness and she has seen a doctor for this type of thing in the past.?
Van Heck told deputies ‘she was convicted in 2012 for the same thing,? the report stated.
Van Heck was directed to bring the allegedly stolen property to the Rochester Hills substation. When the items were returned to Wal-Mart, the loss prevention officer told deputies that not everything was there.
According to the report, a total of $386 in merchandise was taken, however, $305 was recovered. A total of $81 in items was still missing, according to the loss prevention officer.
An arrest warrant for Van Heck was issued on Sept. 5, 2014.
Van Heck said last week’s arrest came as a complete surprise to her.
‘I didn’t know there was any follow-up to (the Aug. 22 incident),? Van Heck said. ‘I got a letter from Wal-Mart saying that they weren’t prosecuting.?
She said she received the letter ‘right after it happened? and Wal-Mart informed her she owed $200 for civil damages.
‘I paid the $200 and I never heard anything from the court system after that, nothing. So, I thought it was done and over with,? Van Heck said. ‘For eight months, I’ve been working and doing everything normal. Nothing has been brought up. Nothing’s been sent to me. It shocked the hell out of me (being arrested) . . . I don’t know how eight months went by and nothing happened, then now, I get arrested.?
‘I’m not one to hide or anything like that. I admitted I did something wrong and I was trying to get help for it,? she noted. ‘It’s awful that (the arrest) happened in public like that.?