The former manager of Lawrence’s Wal-Mart store is suspected of embezzlement after nearly $35,000 was discovered missing from the store.

James Richard Chappelle, 44, Lenexa, was arrested by Lawrence Police during the weekend after a regional Wal-Mart employee completed an audit.

The theft of $34,945.44 happened Sept. 18 or 19 and was reported to police Saturday, according to a report. The report was released Tuesday, and police did not give details of how the alleged theft happened.

Chappelle was released on $1,500 bond and ordered to appear in court Oct. 6. According to jail records, he was arrested for theft of between $500 and $25,000, but no charges have been filed.

Chappelle had helped oversee the expansion of the store, at 3300 Iowa, into a Supercenter. Wal-Mart officials had said Monday that Chappelle left the store, but a company spokeswoman declined to comment on why he had left.