A member of a volunteer fire department in northeast Ohio has been arrested for stealing money from the agency's fundraisers.

The Independent newspaper reports that North Lawrence Volunteer Fire Department member Heidi Knight, 38, of Tuscarawas Township, was arrested and charged with grand theft for stealing roughly $9,000 collected by the department during its station bingo nights.

Lawrence Township police were contacted in August by fire department personnel after they discovered the money was missing.

On at least three separate occasions, discrepancies were found on money log sheets after fundraisers were held, and on each of these occasions it was Knight who was handling payouts for the games being played.

Knight, who denies the accusations, is due back in Massillon Municipal Court Sept. 30 for a preliminary hearing.