A Miami Beach Police officer was behind bars Wednesday after he was arrested on fraud and racketeering charges.
George Navarro Jr., 26, was arrested on two counts of racketeering, official misconduct, organized fraud or $50,000 or more, two counts of false statement of financial condition and two counts each of obtaining a vehicle by trick and unlawful subleasing of a vehicle, according to the Miami Herald.
He was being held at the Miami-Dade County jail on $152,000 Wednesday. During an appearance in bond court Thursday, the amount was reduced to $88,500. He was also ordered to surrender his passport.
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Miami Beach Police confirmed the arrest but referred investigation inquiries to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
“This was an investigation initiated by the Miami Beach Police Department and it is part of the process of rooting out corruption in the department," Chief Raymond A. Martinez said in a statement. "I will not let the actions of one; tarnish this agency and the outstanding work that is done on an everyday basis by the men and women of the Miami Beach Police Department.”
FDLE Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bob Breeden said the investigation was still active and no information could be released.
Any further details of the arrest are unknown. Martinez told the Herald that no other officers are subjects of the investigation.
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Navarro, the son of former Police Cmdr. George Navarro, who was the lead supervisor on the 1997 Gianni Versace murder investigation and now works as the city's emergency manager, has been on desk duty for months while the case has been investigated.
His attorney, Michael Band, said he's been an outstanding officer.
"The allegations contained in the state’s charge are wholly unrelated to his officer’s duties and we will vigorously defend Officer Navarro," Band told the Herald.
