Deputies arrest man for impersonating policeman

By Erik Sanzenbach
St. Tammany News
Published on Sunday, January 31, 2010 12:25 AM CST

Print this story | Email this story | Post A Comment |

St. Tammany Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Mandeville man Tuesday evening on a charge of impersonating a police officer.

Deputies got a call of a suspicious vehicle on Interstate 12 Tuesday night, and spotted a black SUV going west on I-12 near the Lacombe exit with emergency lights flashing and the siren had been turned on.

Deputies stopped the vehicle, driven by Robert A. Austin, 43, 104 Beau Soliel Place, Mandeville, at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 434 and U.S. Highway 190.

AUSTIN

Austin allegedly told deputies that he was an off-duty New Orleans policeman. Deputies did some checking and found out Austin’s claims were false. The deputies then searched the car and found a collection of police-related items, which included handcuffs, various police badges and a handgun.

Austin told police that he used the items only to avoid traffic tickets. Sheriff’s Office spokesman, Capt. George Bonnett, said Austin did not tell deputies why he was traveling down I-12 with his lights and siren on.

Austin was booked into the St. Tammany Jail, Tuesday night and was released Wednesday on a $5,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office wants to hear from people who may have encountered Austin when he was posing as a police officer. If so, they are asked to call Detective Ray Smith at 726-7829.

Print this story | Email this story | Post A Comment |

Comments

3 comment(s)

JUSTIN wrote on Feb 9, 2010 10:32 AM:

" I could point out more than few imposters doing the same thing on the Northshore. They dress like policemen, wear police uniforms, carry guns, and report to work at police departments, however truth be told, they are handicapped imposters. Who could possibly enforce the law when they can't see thier own feet. I think before a person is given a gun and a car they should have to be able to tie thier own shoes, and not have to be told to get in out of the rain. "

lil injun dude wrote on Feb 5, 2010 2:30 AM:

" I personally wish somebody could just do SOMETHING about these attrocious nuisance speeders on Pichon Rd. in Lacombe, along with their God-Awful boom-boxes too... I've got a 3 yr.old here. "

PURINA wrote on Feb 2, 2010 2:49 PM:

" How can they say he was impersonating anything. Just because he had his collection of police stuff in his car does not mean he was trying to get people to think he was a police officer. Now if he had been at a dougnut shop, or if he were picking on an underprivledge youth, then he could be considered trying to act like the police. "

WRITE A COMMENT

Use the form below to post a brief comment to this story, or respond to other readers. Please use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.

Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. They review submitted comments periodically during the day for offensive or off-topic content before posting. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. The St. Tammany News is not liable for messages from third parties.

DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
* Personal Information (phone numbers, addresses, etc.)

Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in thesttammanynews.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the St. Tammany News. The St. Tammany News does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized St. Tammany News spokespersons.

Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.