Deputy Held in O.C. Jewelry Store Theft

LAKE FOREST — A Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on suspicion of robbing a jewelry store at gunpoint and escaping with $90,000 worth of diamonds and diamond bracelets, investigators said Friday.

A black cowboy hat left behind by the robber in the Jewel Garden led to the arrest of Timothy Sladeck, 28, of Foothill Ranch about three hours later.

Sladeck “has been relieved of his duties” as a bailiff at the Metropolitan branch courthouse in Los Angeles, said Deputy Angie Prewett, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“He is on paid leave until he is formally charged,” Prewett said. “That’s all we’re saying at this point.”

Sladeck, a competitive body builder and seven-year veteran with the Sheriff’s Department, is suspected of entering Jewel Garden in the 23800 block of El Toro Road about 3 p.m. Thursday and robbing employees there at gunpoint, Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Ron Wilkerson said.

“As he fled on foot, he lost a cowboy hat, which was later recovered by deputies,” Wilkerson said. “It was fairly new, so they took that hat into some South County retailers, and one of those retailers identified the hat as having been from his shop.”

Investigators then traced the purchase to Sladeck and obtained a search warrant for his rented house, where they found a handgun believed to have been used in the holdup and “hundreds of bottles of illegal steroid pills as well as liquid steroids and syringes,” Wilkerson said. No diamonds or jewelry has been recovered, investigators said.

Sladeck was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery and illegal drug possession. A witness at the jewelry store later identified Sladeck as the robber, Wilkerson said.

Sladeck is being held at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. His 27-year-old roommate, Gabriel Tull, also was arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal steroids and is being held at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

James Sladeck, the suspect’s older brother, said Friday the deputy sheriff is an avid body builder who has won local titles in recent years including Mr. Laguna Beach and Mr. Huntington Beach. Timothy Sladeck also came in second or third in another Southern California bodybuilding contest, the brother said.

“He’s got lots of trophies,” James Sladeck said. “He works out at the gym three times a day, before and after work. That’s what he lives and breathes. His dream was to become a professional body builder.”

Timothy Sladeck grew up in Whittier and graduated from California High School, where he played football and became interested in body building, the brother said.

After high school, he worked as a civilian in a Los Angeles jail and made friends in law enforcement who persuaded him to become a deputy sheriff, James Sladeck said.

“He’s dedicated to his work,” the brother said. “This is a huge shock. . . . I’ve been trying to think of what to say to him when I visit him in jail later, and I just don’t know.

“I also have to tell my parents. They don’t know yet, since they live out of state.”

The brothers usually get together during holidays or trips to area lakes, where they Jet Ski together, he said.

Timothy Sladeck is not married and spends most of his time at work or working out at the gym, his brother said.

“He’s fun to be around with, and people like to be around him.”