Former P.U.P president suspected of embezzlement, grand theft

The former president of the nonprofit Protecting Unwanted Animals (P.U.P. Laguna Beach) was arrested on suspicion of embezzlement and grand theft last week.

Elizabeth Katherine Bauer, 40, of Mammoth Lakes was arrested May 22, according to police. She served as president of P.U.P. from 2006 to 2011. She resigned from the board in March 2012.

An investigation began when the current president noticed several irregularities with one of the bank accounts, Lt. Jason Kravetz said. When the president contacted Bauer for an explanation, Bauer gave her excuses but no reasoning.

A crime report was filed that day. In the afternoon, an investigator arrived unannounced to the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter where Bauer had intended to go for a meeting. The detective interviewed Bauer and deduced she had embezzled around $72,000 from P.U.P. Laguna Beach accounts and arrested her, according to police.

Bauer allegedly used the funds to pay rent on a Dana Point home, make renovations to her Mammoth Lakes property and purchase Mammoth ski passes, Kravetz said.

She posted bail the evening of her arrest. Bauer has an arraignment scheduled for July 5.

— Joanna Clay

Twitter: @CoastlinePilot