A Fresno police officer is suspected of auto theft or being in possession of a stolen vehicle, according to search warrant documents filed in Fresno County Superior Court.
The Fresno Police Department began investigating Alfred “Al” Campos, 38, on Jan. 28 after he took his pickup truck to Michael’s Cadillac on North Blackstone Avenue. A mechanic noticed the truck’s vehicle identification number (VIN) didn’t match the vehicle brought in for service.
Police came to the auto lot and a detective determined the VIN had been tampered with. The detective then found another VIN on the pickup that led to the discovery that the truck had been stolen from Fairfax, Va., the documents say.
Campos has been placed on administrative leave. He is being represented by Fresno attorney Marshall Hodgkins, who said Friday his client is the subject on an internal affairs investigation.
Campos has not been arrested and no criminal charges have been filed.
It is the second time eight years he has been on administrative leave. In 2006, Campos was cleared of wrongdoing after a drug investigation by the internal affairs unit. The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office also investigated and did not file criminal charges.
In that case, police used a confidential informant to buy methamphetamine from Campos’ half brother at the home at which they both lived. Police said they found 2.8 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and $73,000 in cash.
At the time, Campos co-owned the home with his mother.