Shreveport Water and Sewerage Employee Arrested for Felony Theft

A Shreveport city worker has been arrested on allegations of charging a customer for work done by the city. The city's Department of Water and Sewerage contacted police in mid-July about the complaint, and that launched a full criminal investigation.

Detectives say they believe 48-year-old Ronnie Efferson went to a home in the 5300 block of Sussex Avenue to work on a water main as part of his normal duties, and after finishing the work, led the homeowner to believe she owed $600 for the repairs. Then he's said to have returned to collect. Police got an arrest warrant charging Efferson with felony theft. He was taken into custody this morning and booked into Caddo Correctional Center.

Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Brian Crawford had this to say:

"Although unfortunate and not reflective of the high quality and character of city employees as a whole, the City of Shreveport will not tolerate any improprieties related to workers taking advantage of citizens - monetarily or otherwise - including operating criminally within or outside the scope of their regularly assigned job duties as alleged in this case."