A DeKalb Fire Department captain was arrested late last week on allegations that he forged an appraisal for his ex-wife’s house.

Kevin Tjelle, 49, of Waterman, turned himself in to DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputies on Friday after a warrant for his arrest was issued the previous day. He currently is free on bail.

He is being charged with forgery, DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes said. Tjelle’s ex-wife suspected that something was wrong when the tax bill on her property went up $1,500, Kayes said. Tjelle no longer lives in the house.

An investigation revealed that Tjelle illegally had appraised the property himself without a legitimate appraiser and then reported it to the county’s assessment office, police said.

Forged appraisals are rare, Kayes said. This is the first local incident he could remember.

If convicted, Tjelle could face up to five years in prison and fines totaling $25,000.