Hero of the week:Laguna Beach police officer arrested in fraud, elder abuse case

See that mug? That is the face of a hero. How do you know? Because he is a cop and wears blue.   Every day he goes out and risks his life to keep us safe.    Hero is a deed people, not a color.

Posted by Deborah Jarrett

FULLERTON – Three people – including a Laguna Beach policeman – were arrested this week on suspicion of defrauding two older relatives out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, police said on Friday.

The officer is 58-year-old Rock Wagner of Lake Forest. The other two suspects are his sister, Wendy Wagner, 55, and her boyfriend, Norman McBride, 58, both of Huntington Beach.

All three were arrested on suspicion of elder abuse and fraud.

Though Fullerton police would give few details about the case, they did reveal that the investigation began in June when they were told about the alleged misconduct by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and Orange County Adult Protective Services.

Sgt. Jon Radus, Fullerton P.D.’s spokesman, said that agency took the lead on the investigation because a financial institution involved in the case is based out of that city.

Radus said that the victims, a man and woman, are relatives of the officer and his sister. The three suspects were arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

The trio were booked into the Fullerton City Jail. They have since posted bail and been released. A representative with the District Attorney’s Office said no charges have been filed yet and declined to further discuss the case.

Wagner, a nine-year veteran of the Laguna Beach Police Department, is on paid administrative leave until an internal-affairs investigation is over, Chief Laura Farinella told the Register.

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