SANFORD, Fla. -- A Sanford police officer was arrested Monday morning on suspicion of helping an auto sales company with repossessions in exchange for having a loan forgiven.

Chris McClendon was arrested on a charge of unlawful compensation for official behavior, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The Sanford Police Department contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in March about allegations that McClendon was unlawfully compensated for his involvement in assisting a Sanford auto sales company with repossessions.

The FDLE investigation revealed that McClendon used his law enforcement position to assist in repossessions, Sanford police said. In return, McClendon's personal auto loan, given by the same auto sales company, was forgiven, according to the Sanford Police Department.

Police said the total compensation received by McClendon was about $8,000.

McClendon was booked into the Seminole County Jail on $2,000 bond.

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