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Fake Deputy Sought In Brown County

By Brian Hagen

06/27/2012

Brown County authorities are on the hunt, searching for a man believed to be impersonating a law enforcement officer.

That word from Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, following a report of the fake deputy made by a local resident.

According to Merchant, a white male, standing 5 foot 9, with a slender build, was wearing civilian clothing and sunglasses when he approached the resident on a local street. According to the person targeted, the suspect identified himself as a deputy and stated to the person stopped that he wanted to ask him some questions.

At the same time, the resident noticed, parked nearby, an older dark blue Crown Victoria unmarked police type vehicle. Because of that, the resident did not ask the questionable officer for identification.

However, the resident did take the matter to Sheriff Merchant, who believes the suspect was impersonating a law enforcement officer, which is a felony offense.

Merchant warns local residents to avoid the man, and provide any details on his whereabouts, or that of the Crown Victoria, to the Sheriff's office.

Merchant reminds residents that plain clothed officers, performing an official act, must be able to produce proper credentials upon request.

Merchant asks that anyone who has encountered the suspect, or who may have seen the Crown Victoria in question, to contact his office immediately.