Plymouth Suspends Finance Director Over Town Funds

PLYMOUTH, Conn. (AP) _ Plymouth Mayor David V. Merchant says the town’s finance director has been suspended on allegations he misappropriated town money.

Merchant would not say how much money Finance Director David Bertnagel is suspected of misappropriating. He says the alleged misappropriations have occurred since October 2013.

Merchant said he was made aware last Friday of a possible misuse of money in the finance department and the town is hiring an auditing firm and will contact law enforcement.

The mayor said officials confronted Bertnagel with the allegations and asked for an explanation. Officials were not satisfied with his responses, which the mayor said did not make sense.

Police have taken Bertnagel’s computer as part of the investigation, which is continuing.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)