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Ex-Lathrop councilman arrested
Griffith faces burglary, insurance fraud charges
Mugshot-For-Leroy-Griffith1
Leroy Griffith
LATHROP — Three felonies and one misdemeanor charge were levied against former Lathrop City Councilman Leroy Griffith Thursday over a false police report that involved theft of a roommate’s property.

Sheriff’s spokesman Les Garcia said an investigation into a false police report discovered suspected burglary, insurance fraud and possession of stolen property bringing allegations against the 66-year-old Griffith.

The former city council member is currently in San Joaquin County Jail in lieu of $156,000 bail, according to the sheriff’s website.

Lathrop detectives met with the former councilman on Thursday regarding a home invasion robbery that he had reported occurring at his home in the 800 block of Thomsen Road on Jan. 19.

Griffith had reportedly told deputies that suspects forced their way into his residence and broke into his roommate’s locked bedroom – stealing her valuables.

The police investigation determined that Griffith was actually responsible for the thefts and had falsely reported the robbery, Garcia said.

Griffith had allegedly reported a scenario where the robbery had occurred at 6 a.m. when he heard the plastic blinds in his room making a noise and woke up to a subject holding a gun to his temple.  

Deputies said Griffith’s account continued with the intruders supposedly ordering him upstairs and putting him in a bathroom, advising him to stay there until they were gone – at least for an hour because they would be watching him.

The former city councilman further told deputies that he observed two men from a bathroom door make three to four trips up and down the stairs carrying items from his roommate’s room down the stairs.

He explained  that his roommate had left on a cruise and wouldn’t be returning for two more weeks.  Griffith said he believed the thieves were Filipino males from the sounds of their voices.  Among the items taken were a cell phone valued at $160, the woman’s wallet, miscellaneous cash and oxycodone prescription medication and a credit card.

Deputies sought out possible witnesses at a school as well as at nearby residences in the area – all checked with negative results.

Griffith is scheduled to appear in the San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton on Feb.15 at 1:30 p.m.