GREENVILLE, S.C. --

Laurens County sheriff's deputies arrested a fire department captain and both of her parents after an investigation into embezzling of public funds from the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department.

Sandra Denise Brown is charged with receiving stolen goods and criminal conspiracy

Her father, James Edward Brown Sr., 57, who is the president of the Waterloo volunteer fire department board, is charged with embezzlement of public funds and criminal conspiracy. Her mother, Sandra Brown, faces the same charges.

The sheriff's office states that up to $40,000 was embezzled throughout the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

Investigators said that the arrests took the people of Waterloo by surprise.

Sheriff Ricky Chastain said, "It's something that you wouldn't expect to happen, but unfortunately, it did."

According the deputies, $40,000 was taken from 2006 to 2007.