A Los Angeles Police Department officer suspected of workers’ compensation fraud for allegedly exaggerating an on-duty injury to collect disability benefits and then participating in recreational skydiving and other physical activity was arrested Wednesday.
Officer Christopher Carnahan purportedly injured his left elbow while on duty on May 22, 2023, and was subsequently placed on temporary totally disabled status, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors allege that while on temporary totally disabled status, the 18-year LAPD veteran completed many skydives at Skydive Elsinore in Lake Elsinore and worked out at a fitness center, contrary to his claims of being temporarily totally disabled.
Carnahan, 45, of Norwalk, was booked on suspicion of two counts of felony insurance fraud following an investigation by the LAPD’s Special Operations Division Major Complaint Unit conducted in partnership with the District Attorney’s Office Healthcare Fraud Division.
Bail was set at $100,000 bail.
“This case is about honesty and accountability,” District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement. “Claiming to be temporarily totally disabled and collecting disability benefits intended for injured workers while engaging in physically demanding activities like skydiving is a crime.
“This is an officer who knows the law and understands the standards he is sworn to uphold.”
I knew someone who was ex-lapd then took up the type of work involved in catching these cheaters. This type of cheating deprives La residents of police services we pay for them to jump out of planes for fun.