EAST SPENCER — State investigators say former East Spencer Officer Alan Bridges is accused of taking evidence from the East Spencer Police Department nearly two months ago.

Bridges, 30, was charged by the State Bureau of Investigation on Thursday with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny after breaking and entering. A warrant provided few details, but said the former officer took $5.50 from the police department, 105 S. Long St. The arrest warrant said the theft occurred Nov. 29.

He was issued a $500 secured bond and has since been released from the Rowan County Detention Center.

SBI Spokeswoman Teresa West said in a brief statement on Friday that Bridges was charged with “breaking into a room at the East Spencer Police Department and the theft of evidence.”

West said the SBI initiated this investigation on Dec. 9.

East Spencer Town Administrator Macon Sammons Jr. said very little except that the investigation continues. Sammons would not comment about whether more money was taken from the police department.

Bridges, of the 100 block of Shadow Creek, China Grove, was a patrol officer with the East Spencer Police Department.

East Spencer Police Chief Baxter Michael comfirmed Bridges was employed by the department at the time of the incident. He did not say how officials discovered the theft.

Michael said the SBI was called in to look into the matter so that the department did not have to investigate one of its own officers.

Bridges had been with the East Spencer Police Department since October 2013. He has also worked with the China Grove Police Department and as a patrol officer with UNC-Charlotte. He was briefly employed as a detention center officer with the Rowan Sheriff’s Office.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.