Spokane police arrest woman in connection with more than $30,000 in stolen PTO funds

Spokane police arrested a 29-year-old woman Friday night in connection with more than $30,000 in funding stolen from the Finch Elementary Parent Teacher Organization.

Police started investigating Mandie L. Russell, the former PTO treasurer, after PTO officials located questionable transactions in bank records, according to a news release. Investigators suspect Russell stole at least $34,000 using a debit card between January 2018 and November 2019.

Russell was charged with first-degree theft and money laundering, according to a news release.

The arrest is the second this month of a representative of a local chapter of the PTO. On Nov. 6, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office arrested Teesha M. Lutrick, 32, on suspicion of embezzling $26,000 from the organization’s chapter at Deer Park Elementary School.