An SIUC student was arrested earlier this month for allegedly stealing a book of speeding tickets from his former employer.

Benjamin Friederich, a junior in administration of justice from Lake Zurich, allegedly took a pad of 25 speeding tickets from the Lake Forest Police Department, where he worked as a community service officer last summer.

He allegedly brought the tickets to Carbondale, where he distributed them to his friends to make false identification to purchase alcohol, according to a faxed statement from Michael Hosking, deputy police chief of the Lake Forest Police Department.

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Friederich was arrested Feb. 3 while home for the weekend in Lake Zurich. He posted $1,000 bond.

Hosking said his department received a tip about the alleged theft in December. The Lake Forest police contacted the Carbondale police, who questioned Friederich in his Bailey Hall dorm room and confiscated some of the tickets, the statement said.

Hosking said Friederich was arrested for theft under $300. The crime is Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine, Bridget Salvi, Lake County assistant state’s attorney, said.

Hosking and Salvi said they could not discuss specific details about the case because it is still pending.

Peter J. Wifler, Friederich’s attorney, said he is going to try to get a continuance for his client so Friederich does not have to drive seven hours for a 10-minute hearing.

Essentially, because he’s down in Carbondale, we’re going to make an appearance for him on (Feb.) 20th to find out what the charges are, he said.