EVERETT — A former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy was charged Wednesday with repeatedly stealing from a Home Depot near Everett where he worked as security.
In late October, Jeremie Zeller, 46, resigned from the sheriff’s office before a disciplinary hearing, spokesperson Courtney O’Keefe said. He was previously placed on administrative leave in September. Zeller had worked at the sheriff’s office since April 2017.
The deputy now faces allegations he committed second-degree organized retail theft, a felony.
In his time-off duty from the sheriff’s office, Zeller, of Lake Stevens, worked as security at the Home Depot south of Everett on Highway 99, according to a search warrant obtained by The Daily Herald.
Under sheriff’s office policy, employees can work off-duty with approval from the sheriff. To get approval, the employee has to complete a permit.
The deputy had reportedly worked at Home Depot dozens of times this year.
In eight separate instances in August and September, prosecutors allege Zeller stole merchandise from the store. The merchandise was worth between $857 and just over $1,000. Under state law, the criteria for felony organized retail theft is $750.
Zeller’s method was similar each time, an internal sheriff’s office investigator wrote in the search warrant last year. He would take items from shelves and place them in an orange Home Depot bucket. He’d then place the bucket behind a desk with a note saying it was for him. Later in his shift, he’d take the bucket to his sheriff’s office patrol car without paying, according to charging papers.
On Sept. 19 of last year, Home Depot asset protection staff alerted the sheriff’s office of the alleged serial theft. They showed an undersheriff the surveillance video depicting Zeller stealing. The undersheriff “immediately recognized” Zeller, deputy prosecutor Elise Deschenes wrote in the charges.
The next day, the undersheriff put Zeller on administrative leave. His patrol car was impounded. A judge approved a search warrant. The search turned up two items confirmed to have been taken from Home Depot, cleaning wipes and gloves, according to court documents.
On Sept. 28, the sheriff’s office investigator, William Geoghagan, called Zeller. He reportedly told the deputy about the criminal investigation.
Zeller asked Geoghagan what charges he faced, according to the charges. Geoghagan told him it was felony retail theft. This seemed to confuse Zeller, who repeatedly noted he never took more than $750 any one time. He asked how it could be a felony. Zeller conceded if you added all the merchandise up, it could reach the $750 threshold.
Arraignment is set for Jan. 30. Prosecutors won’t object to Zeller remaining out of custody during the proceedings.
Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @GoldsteinStreet.
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