Glen Garner, who is homeless, tries to cool off in the 99-degree heat in Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach in Austin, TX, on July 1, 2024. “It’s tough,” he said of trying to survive the extreme heat.
Glenn County, California – A former California sheriff’s deputy who stole $3,500 from a homeless man he arrested has been permanently barred from working in law enforcement, even as felony theft charges against him were dropped.
John Sanzone, previously employed by the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, was accused of stealing cash from a homeless man during an arrest. The victim had been carrying $3,500 — savings intended for urgent dental work — when Sanzone took the money and later attempted to cover up the theft.
According to the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office, Sanzone went as far as driving the man to another county to avoid detection and interfered with the evidence process, preventing the man from reclaiming his money after release.
The theft came to light in May 2023, when authorities announced that Sanzone had surrendered himself at the Glenn County Jail under an arrest warrant. He was subsequently charged with grand theft by embezzlement and released on bail.
On Friday, officials confirmed that Sanzone had repaid the $3,500 in restitution and voluntarily surrendered his California peace officer certification. The surrender means he is permanently prohibited from serving in any law enforcement role within the state.
In exchange, prosecutors dropped the felony charges against him — a decision that sparked swift backlash on social media.
“So a cop steals $3,500 and gets let off with no charges lol wow only in Glenn County,” one commenter wrote on Facebook. Another user added, “Just shows the actual level of corruption in this county when a cop steals from a homeless man and walks free.”
The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office has not issued further public comment since Friday’s announcement.
This is not the first time Sanzone’s conduct has come under scrutiny. He was previously named in a lawsuit against the Oroville Police Department alleging racial discrimination. The suit includes claims that other officers witnessed multiple citizen complaints about Sanzone and alleges at least four other incidents in which he reportedly stole money from individuals he arrested.
The current case was prosecuted by District Attorney Dwayne Stewart with assistance from Lt. Navarro of the Colusa County Sheriff’s Department.
“This kind of abuse of authority undermines the public’s trust in law enforcement,” Stewart said in a brief statement. “We take misconduct seriously and believe the permanent revocation of Sanzone’s peace officer status sends a clear message.”
Despite that assurance, many residents remain frustrated that Sanzone avoided criminal penalties, with critics saying justice remains out of reach for the vulnerable — especially those without stable housing.
