City of Brookings employee charged with stealing money from concession stand

January 30, 2024

BROOKINGS, S.D.–A city of Brookings employee is facing a felony charge after allegedly stealing money from the concessions stand at Larson Ice Center.

Forty-year-old Paul Laleman is charged with grand theft. He’s a parks technician with the city and is accused of stealing more than $7,000 from the Brookings Ice Skating Association.

The money was taken from a locked concessions stand that Laleman had access to because of his job.

Court records say skating association officials noticed discrepancies in their concession funds, so they installed hidden cameras. Laleman was seen on camera “stealing thousands of dollars” from a locked drop box.

After a police investigation that included an interview, Laleman was arrested Monday. He appeared in court and was granted a personal recognizance bond.