A former Bokchito police officer has been charged with writing four bogus checks.

Robert Dale Buchanan, 30, Bokchito, was charged last week with writing two or more bogus checks over felony limit of $500, according to court records, and he had an initial appearance on the charge Wednesday.

According to court papers, Buchanan wrote bogus checks in August in the amounts of $64.37, $70.49, $75 and $300.

Buchanan had once served with the Bokchito Police Department, according to court records, and he has a preliminary hearing conference set for Dec. 6.

In other crimes, Clifford Ray Gibson Jr., 35, Durant, was charged Wednesday with first-degree arson, third-degree arson, assault and battery upon a police officer and public intoxication.

According to court papers, Gibson was arrested Tuesday for starting a fire in a grass lot in the 500 block of North First Avenue. The fire was put out by Durant firefighters and according to police, Gibson was intoxicated at the time.

He was charged with third-degree arson for that incident. The first-degree arson charge was related to a prior incident where authorities said he set fire to the carpet at a residence in the 200 block of South Fifth Avenue. He also was accused of setting furniture on fire that was on the lawn, plus assaulting Officer Wesley Crank by throwing a gas heater at him and punching him.

Sheriff’s deputies have investigated several thefts recently. David Davis, a representative with AT&T, told Sgt. Jason Bannowsky on Tuesday that 417 feet of telephone wire between two poles on Banty Road in Bennington had been stolen. The loss was estimated at $1,000.

Two firearms owned by Thomas Kagle were stolen from his home in the 7000 block of Highway 91, according to a report by Deputy Rick Ward. Entry appeared to have been gained through a bedroom window.

Deputy Arnold Bentley responded to a burglary in the 21000 block of Highway 78 in Calera. Benny Robison said that when he arrived home, he noticed the front door had been kicked in. An antique cash register and two books of CDs were stolen.