Former Mission cop arrested for taking cash to "fix cases"
A former Mission police officer found himself on the other side of the law after being accused of taking bribes in order to "fix" court cases.
Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested 40-year-old Carlos Celedon on state jail felony theft charges on Friday evenving.
Investigators told Action 4 News that the former Mission Police Department corporal is accused of taking bribes on at least two occsasion.
Court records obtained by Action 4 News show that Celedon no longer worked with the police department but told both victims that he had "connections" in the courts.
One victim told deputies that he paid Celedon $1,582 to make a prior DWI and a traffic ticket "go away" but that never happened.
Another victim told deputies that he paid Celedon $3,546 to expunge his three DWI's from his criminal record.
Deputies reported the man came forward because Celedon refused to give him his money back after he failed to deliver what he promised.
Investigators reported that Celedon once worked for the Mission Police Department but was convicted on theft charges in a 2010 case where he promised to deliver large screen televisions and other items for discount prices but never delivered.
Celedon appeared before Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Ismael "Melo" Ochoa where he was issued $15,000 in bonds.