Botetourt County prosecutors say two former leaders of the Troutville Volunteer Rescue Squad embezzled $40,000 from the organization though apparently neither one knew what the other was doing.

Former rescue squad captain Stacy Tanaka, 33, and former treasurer Elizabeth L. Falls, 28, were indicted Monday by a Botetourt grand jury. Tanaka was charged with two counts of embezzlement and Falls was charged with four counts, according to the indictments unsealed Tuesday.

Virginia State Police, which conducted a five-month investigation of the rescue squad, concluded that Tanaka, of Troutville, embezzled over a two-year period while Falls, of Fincastle, embezzled over a four-year period.

Neither Tanaka nor Falls could be reached for comment. Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jill Deegan said Tanaka and Falls, acting separately, were able to embezzle from the rescue squad because, as leaders, they had access to bank accounts and credit cards.

Rescue squad Capt. Kenny Ball issued a statement saying the investigation of the squad's money handling began after the squad found discrepancies in its accounts. Ball said the results of the internal investigation were passed on to county prosecutors, and Tanaka and Falls immediately resigned.

The two former members are cooperating, Ball said, and the squad is seeking restitution.

In other grand jury business, Gladimyr Balisage, an employee of automotive supplier JTEKT's Daleville plant, was indicted on charges of extortion and trying to obtain money by false pretenses. Authorities allege Balisage wrote a note to the company in which he tried to extort money from it.

County resident Angela Hughes was indicted on charges of child abuse and malicious wounding. Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom said the charges stem from a "shaken baby" incident.

-- Rex Bowman