SALEM, Ore. -- Albany Police Detectives arrested a Salem man Wednesday afternoon in connection with a 3-month indentity theft investigation.

Detectives arrested Patrick Martin Luther Smith, 40, of Salem without incident in the 300 block of Church Street in Salem.

Patrick Smith was lodged in the Linn County Jail on the following charges:

. Aggravated Theft in the First Degree

. Computer Crime (2 counts)

. Identity Theft

. Aggravated Identity Theft

. Theft in the First Degree

. Falsifying Business Records

. Unlawful Possession of Cocaine

Police began their investigation in August 2009 when Bill Rogers Honda of Albany call to report it had fired Patrick Smith who was their service manager. Bill Rogers, who owns the dealership, reported that he thought Patrick Smith had been setting aside company money for his personal use after he noticed an unusually high balance on a company credit card that usually maintains a low balance.

The investigation revealed that Patrick Smith unlawfully appropriated over $200,000 from Bill Rogers Honda and converted it to his personal use. Patrick Smith did this by misusing a company credit card and bank account and opened up a new credit card under the name of Bill Rogers. Patrick Smith was able to hide his fraudulent activity for nearly a year by falsifying business records.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or Patrick Smith is asked to call Albany Police Detectives at 541-917-7686.