The mayor of West Union was arrested for stealing money from the town’s police department, according to the Doddridge County Sheriff.

Ralph Washington, 65, is charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, according to his criminal complaint.

In November 2018, Washington was acting in his capacity as mayor when he entered the West Union Police Department and took $272 in cash, Sheriff Michael Headley said.

The money was in two separate bags, clearly marked as evidence, that were sealed inside a box marked with red evidence tape, according to details in Washington’s criminal complaint.