SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Santa Fe's director of Public Works and Utilities was arrested for allegedly stealing a checked box full of gifts from the Santa Fe Regional Airport's baggage claim area, according to court documents. John Dupuis was booked into the Santa Fe County Detention Center on Dec. 27 and was charged with larceny (over $500 but not more than $2,500). The box belonged to a couple traveling from Denver and contained Christmas gifts including custom canvas paint prints, Lego sets, a custom leather pouch, and other items valued at over $1,000. Story continues below Community: Bernalillo County Animal Care entering 2025 on a high note Don't Miss: How Ski Santa Fe is managing with low snowfall Trending: First Albuquerque baby born in 2025 a surprise to parents News: VIDEO: SFPD drone program helps catch suspected car thief in minutes According to investigators, Dupuis grabbed the repurposed old microwave box with presents inside from the baggage claim area after he claimed his two checked bags. Dupuis waited in the baggage claim area for about 27 minutes, and the airline worker did a last call for bags on the carousel. According to court documents, he then took a picture of the box and claimed it as his own. Dupuis left the airport inside his Ford F150 unmarked work truck, investigators said. Officers arrived at his home and found the box full of gifts sitting in the bed of the truck with its contents "scattered around," officers wrote in the statement of probable cause. He told officers that he took a picture of the box at the airport as he believed it belonged to his friend "Jeff." However, when he opened the box, he realized the items were not his friends and told police that he planned to return the box in the morning but had not done so yet," court documents stated. Officers wrote in the statement of probable cause that Dupuis provided no proof to support his claims and that he admitted to taking the luggage without confirming with his friend that it was theirs. Dupuis was released from the detention center on personal recognizance and has a court status hearing set for Jan 29. The City of Santa Fe released the following statement about Dupuis: "The City of Santa Fe placed Director of Public Utilities, John Dupuis, on administrative leave without pay as of Monday. The City will cooperate with any criminal investigation and will also conduct its own administrative investigation.  Water Division Director Jesse Roach will assume the Director of Public Utilities role in the interim," City of Santa Fe Communications Director Regina Ruiz wrote in an email to KRQE News 13. Dupuis was selected by former City Manager John Blair for the role of Public Utilities Department Director and started in the position in March 2023. Before that, he served as the Utilities director for Santa Fe County for over five years. He also previously served as the Upper Chama Water Master for NM Office of the State Engineer.