A former Kansas City officer from Johnson County had his police license taken by the Sheriff's office, after committing fraud involving about $400 worth of Pokemon cards.
The man, who was identified as William Knight, was discharged from work after he attempted to switch barcodes to get Pokemon cards at a cheaper price, Kiro reports.
Knight Was Busted In The Unlawful Act While In Uniform
The former cop was charged with one count of felony in the disciplinary filing, where he was reported to have aroused suspicion while shopping in a retail store in his uniform.
According to Kotaku, Knight had been caught taking barcodes off inexpensive items from his home, which he stuck on the back of a dozen boxes of Pokemon cards.
Thinking he could get away with his fraudulent acts, Knight pretended to take a call before leaving the store when the cashier noticed that something did not seem right.
However, Knight was identified quickly, and he admitted to trying to scam the retail store, which ended him up criminally charged.
While the former officer evaded a criminal case, the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training determined that Knight was unfit to continue serving.
The scammer was removed from service because the Commission found that he lacked integrity, which prevents him from getting any police work anywhere else in the State.
"Mr. Knight is gainfully employed, supporting his family and trying to make amends to the victim, his community and his family through the DA's diversion program," Knight's lawyer argues.
According to Kotaku, Knight's camp also believes that the former cop only had a lapse of judgment in a time of stress and anxiety.
The Kansas Star writes that Knight had been with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office since March 2019 until his scam was busted in May 2022.
With that, Sgt. Jesse Valdez of the Sheriff's office assures the public that Knight is a separate entity from the agency, but he did not give any more comments regarding the incident.
Under the Kansas City law, some misdemeanor and all felony convictions like the unlawful act involving a theft detection shielding device warrant for a police officer to be barred from service.
The Pokemon Cards Make Up Many Americans' Childhoods
Released in 1998, the Pokemon cards have become a staple in many young Americans' childhood, KATV details.
These collectible cards were highly sought-after because of their different rarities as they come in different sets in retail stores where they sell booster packs of cards.
Each box of booster cards may cost around $100, as they offer fans a chance to get very rare cards that are not in regular packs.
In August 2022, the most expensive Pokemon card was sold and purchased by boxer Logan Paul for about $5.75 million, KATV reports.
While the Pokemon cards seem to have played an important role in shaping the childhood experiences of many, it still does not justify Knight's attempted fraudulent purchase.
Knight was arrested and booked in the Johnson County Adult Detention Center before he posted a bond of $2,500 on May 13 of this year.
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