Police in Omaha arrested a City Councilman from Missouri Valley Monday, for allegedly taking more than $271,000 from his employer. 34-year old Christopher Brooks was being held in the Douglas County, Nebraska Jail on suspicion of four-counts of felony theft by deception, causing a loss of more than $1,500, and four-counts of State Tax Evasion.

Brooks allegedly wrote checks to himself on an account registered to River City Barricade. The acts allegedly occurred over a period of four-years, beginning in 2007.

Brooks’ attorney, Michael Fitzpatrick, said it was his client, who, with a guilty conscience,  alerted his employer to what was going on.

Fitzpatrick also disputes the amount of money that was taken. He told reporters they are working to try and figure out exactly how they can prove what the exact amount is. He also mentioned Brooks had been working to pay his employer back for the purchase of nearly $20,000 worth of merchandise, which included a boat.

River City Barricade in Omaha, provides traffic control devices for city streets and construction zones. Company officials have declined to comment on the theft investigation. Brooks has reportedly been with the company for more than 14-years, overseeing its day-to-day operations, payroll, accounting and bidding processes.

He became a member of the Missouri Valley City Council in March 2010.