Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detectives arrested Wilson Rivera Espinosa on Thursday. He faces one count of embezzlement. The arrest happened two days after CMPD’s Financial Crimes Unit opened its investigation.
Espinosa worked as a safety specialist in the department’s Passenger Vehicle for Hire Unit. This unit watches over city rules for taxis and ride-share cars in Charlotte. It handles licensing and inspections and makes sure drivers follow the law. CMPD placed him on leave without pay and started firing him.
The probe started Sept. 17 when a supervisor spotted problems during a routine check. Payment receipts didn’t match up. After finding these issues, officials moved the employee away from public duties while they dug deeper…