A former American Red Cross worker was indicted this week on 22 counts of bilking the nonprofit organization of more than $5,000 last year by forging signatures on purchase orders for food, lodging and clothing for disaster victims.

An Anne Arundel County grand jury indicted Robert Noble, 46, of the 400 block of Old Stage Road in Glen Burnie, who worked for the Red Cross office in Edgewater.

Red Cross officials said they could not discuss the matter.

"This sort of caught everybody by surprise," said Linnea Anderson, spokeswoman for the Central Maryland chapter.

Police assigned to the state's attorney's office were alerted to discrepancies in Red Cross books by the agency, said Kristin Riggin, spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office.

She said Noble was hired in 1997 as a health and safety instructor, although he had not shown proof of certification to officials.

He also was part of the emergency response team that helps victims of fires, floods and other disasters get emergency shelter, food and clothing.

In June, a records clerk found several peculiar disbursement orders. The signatures, which were of another member of the emergency response team, had been forged.

Noble could not be reached yesterday.

Pub Date: 3/24/99