Michael Hetzer at a Citizens for a Better Ridgewood civic meeting. File photo.
A Community Board 5 member and civic leader was arrested last month for allegedly stealing $200,000 out of an escrow account entrusted to him.
Police arrested Michael Hetzer, Vice President of Citizens for a Better Ridgewood and former 104th Precinct Community Council President, on May 3.
He was charged soon after with grand larceny.
According to court documents, police allege that Hetzer was working as an escrow agent in an estate sale in 2008 and pocketed the escrow money.
An administrator selling off three pieces of the estate’s commercial property in Glendale retained Hetzer, paying him $25,000.
As part of the sale of the three properties, Hetzer agreed to hold $200,000 in escrow, and in February of 2008, the estate administrator made two checks out to Hetzer, totaling that amount, according to court documents.
A police detective said in the documents that according to bank record, Hetzer deposited the checks in March 2008.
But, by the end of 2011, Hetzer’s account had been drained, the detective said—leaving only about $10,000.
When the estate administrator asked for a up-to-date bank statement concerning the escrow fund in December of 2009, she received no reply from Hetzer, according to the documents.
She told detectives that numerous phone calls from herself and her civil attorney were not returned.
She also told the detective that in September of 2011, she and her husband were able to speak to Hetzer, at which time he allegedly told them the money was gone.
Since then, Hetzer has not responded to demands to return the money, the document alleges.
The criminal complaint against Hetzer quotes from a conversation he allegedly had with a detective and assistant district attorney.
According to the document, he said, “The facts speak for themselves,” and that he intends to repay the money.
Hetzer did not return requests for comment.
Hetzer was arraigned on May 3 and released without bail.
Hetzer is still a member of CB 5, but declined his position as second vice chairman.
Citizens for a Better Ridgewood could not be reached.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
