Seminole County deputy arrested for narcotics theft

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - The Seminole County Sheriff's Office arrested Jason Bender Thursday on four counts of grand theft of a controlled substance, a third degree felony. 

Bender, a Sheriff's Office lieutenant assigned to the City County Investigative Bureau (CCIB), is believed to have stolen prescription pain medication from a narcotics storage safe at the CCIB office on at least four occasions.

The Sheriff's Office began its investigation on Wednesday evening when an investigator in CCIB noticed some of the packaging and contents in the office safe appeared to be disturbed. Investigators conducted an immediate inventory and discovered drugs were missing. The investigation revealed that Bender had taken the drugs for personal use.

Bender was booked in the John E. Polk Correctional Facility last night and was released on bond.  He has been placed on suspension. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit.