Ex-Merced County sheriff’s deputy wanted for alleged embezzlement arrested in Arizona

A former Merced County Sheriff’s deputy accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from a department union has been arrested, Merced County Sheriff Vern Warke said.

Phillip Brooks, who was president of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association for a number of years, was arrested in Kingman, Ariz. around 1 p.m. Sunday, Warnke said.

Brooks was taken into custody without incident and is awaiting extradition to Merced County.

Brooks, 52, had been sought since an arrest warrant was issued last year.

Current Deputy Sheriff’s Association President Roberto Torres estimates Brooks misappropriated at least $100,000 from the union. The money was allocated toward operational costs. The ongoing investigation was turned over to the California Office of the Attorney General.

Torres said the union — which represents about 109 sheriff’s deputies, coroners and dispatchers — now has more extensive day-to-day oversight and supervision.

A warrant for Brooks’ arrest was filed March 18, 2019. It set bail at $75,000.

The incident bears similarities to the 2018 case against former Merced Police Detective Joseph Deliman. He is accused of embezzling and misappropriating $82,495.94 from the Merced Police Officers Association between Jan. 1, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2017.

As the head of the police union from 2007-16, Deliman had been responsible for its financial accounts. He was booked on a grand theft charge. Deliman pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing in November 2018.

Deliman’s case is ongoing, and a trial setting conference in his case is scheduled for May.

This story was originally published February 23, 2020 at 4:49 PM.