A man who worked as the Ida town clerk and had a second job as the town’s only water department employee was arrested by Caddo sheriff’s deputies for stealing from the town’s coffers, said Sheriff Steve Prator.

Haywood Williamson, 71, of 14925 Harrison Road in Mira, was arrested Monday by Sheriff’s Lt. Jay Long after an audit of the town’s finances showed Williamson overpaid himself a total of $5,500 in 2011 and 2012.

As the town clerk and only water department employee, Williamson was entitled to two checks at the first of every month. However, Long said on 12 occasions, Williamson wrote himself duplicate pay checks. Legitimate pay checks were posted to the town’s general ledger, but none of the 12 duplicate checks was recorded.

Williamson was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center for felony theft.