Suffolk News-Herald

A former city zoning official is being charged with five counts of felony embezzlement.

Warrants have been secured against Jeffrey Van Hosen, 34, who oversaw the Neighborhood Development Services department’s maintenance/zoning enforcement division until about two months ago. He reportedly was fired after failing to call or appear for work during Hurricane Isabel.

Thus far, police have not been able to locate Van Hosen, 34, of the 1400 block of Richmond Avenue, Portsmouth, said Lt. Debbie George, spokeswoman for the Suffolk Police Department.

According to police records, on at least five occasions over the past three years, property owners have paid Van Hosen $40 to $50 in rental inspection fees. That money was never turned over to the city in the form of inspection payments, police said.

The report also noted that Van Hosen was never authorized to collect money while working in the field.

More charges may be pending against Van Hosen as the investigation continues, George added.

The city’s probe into Van Hosen’s activities has no connection with the ongoing investigation within the city’s public utilities department, said City Manager R. Steven Herbert.

On Thursday, Herbert refused to make additional comments on either investigation. However, he indicated earlier this week that he will release information on the public utilities investigation within the next few days.

Efforts to reach Van Hosen by telephone were unsuccessful.