A United States policeman was taken into custody by his colleagues in Atlanta recently after he was interdicted for stealing US$2,000 from the purse of a Jamaican diplomat.

The policeman, who is now under investigation, is reportedly to have taken the money when the woman, who is employed to a Jamaican government ministry, left her pouch at the airport in Atlanta.

According to a report on Fox 5 news, the diplomat in question is now on assignment in Europe. The network said the Atlanta police are now reportedly in discussion with the Clayton County District Attorney to determine if criminal charges will be pursued against the policeman.

The diplomat. who left her bag behind, has also reportedly said she is cooperating with this investigation.

The report indicates that the diplomat was making her way through Atlanta's busy airport, near carousel #7 where she picked up her bags and walked out to the curb to be picked up.

According to further police reports, she then realised she had left her black pouch on a seat with her passport and US$2,000 cash inside.

She returned inside the airport where a passenger explained to her that the pouch had been turned in at the AirTrans counter.

to Lost and Found

The report further indicates that a person at the counter told the diplomat that an Atlanta policeman, identified as Steven Brown, had taken the pouch and planned to turn it in to Lost and Found.

On that advice, she reportedly checked with Lost and Found and was told that they had not received the pouch. Moments later, Brown handed her the pouch, saying he had found it in the bathroom.

However, after the diplomat checked the pouch, she found her passport but the US$2,000 was gone.

The Atlanta Police Department released a statement saying, "Chief Turner believes that no Atlanta police officer is above the law, and should be held accountable for his or her actions."

The report later states that the diplomat had issued a statement saying that the Atlanta police returned the money to her.

Brown also reportedly said through a union spokesperson that he is sorry, regretful and embar****ed that the situation occurred.

When THE WEEKEND STAR contacted the Atlanta Police Department, they advised that further checks would have to be made with their Central Records department to see how far the investigations against Brown are.

Officials at the ministry, where the diplomat works, have declined to comment on the matter.