An eastern Pennsylvania police chief says a New Jersey state trooper asked an officer not to arrest him on shoplifting charges by mentioning he worked on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s security detail.

An attorney for 35-year-old William Carvounis, of North Brunswick, N.J., confirms the trooper has worked on Christie’s security detail but denies he asked for special treatment. He also denies that Carvounis shoplifted items from the outdoor retailer Cabela’s near Hamburg, Pa., on Jan. 8.

But Tilden Township police Chief William McEllroy tells The Associated Press, “That is absolutely what occurred.”

Police say the trooper asked repeatedly for a break on charges involving merchandise worth about $268, saying he didn’t want to lose his job.

The arrest was first reported by NewJersey.Watchdog.org, a news website run an investigative reporter.

(AP)