Wrestling Promoter Arrested!

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Man arrested, charged with impersonating police officer

 

 

by Rebecca Walker

Staff Writer

 

 

 

An Eastaboga man is charged with impersonating a police officer after he allegedly pulled several local residents over and asked them to slow down.

 

Scotty Warren, 21, was a civil defense volunteer and also a security guard at Regional Medical Center. In addition to the allegation he pretended to be a cop, he allegedly forged a judge's signature on a court document·

 

Authorities in late December pulled Warren over for speeding. According to police he had a blue light on his car, as well as a seven-point badge similar to badges worn by Calhoun County sheriff's deputies.

 

Police said Warren told the Oxford police officer he worked for the coroner's office, and was on his way to back up a deputy at a traffic stop on U.S. 78.

 

Oxford police Chief Bill Partridge said the officer felt Warren's actions were suspicious, and the agency contacted both the coroner and Sheriff's offices. Neither had a record of Warren as an employee.

 

Sheriff's Chief Deputy Matthew Wade said that since Warren's arrest, it's been discovered that on at least two occasions, he also told deputies he worked at the coroner's office.

 

After his arrest, Warren admitted to pulling over at least three people for speeding near Bynum, police said. Because of his work with the Calhoun County Civil Defense Emergency Group, Warren had an 800 MHz radio, providing him access to police and emergency communications not available to the public.

 

Partridge said Warren also had a police uniform he'd purchased on eBay Inc.

 

Officers do not believe Warren harmed anyone during the traffic stops.

 

"Oxford was instrumental i n breaking this open. They had a patrol officer paying attention and doing his job," Wade said. "It's just good, old-fashioned law enforcement."

 

The Civil Defense Group, a nonprofit, volunteer organization, is responsible for local search and rescue efforts, as well as clearing areas for first responders after natural disasters according to Civil Defense Commander Harold Rhodes.

 

"As soon as we found out what (Warren) was doing, we got our (equipment) away from him," Rhodes said. "We've started our proceedings because he violated bylaws of the group by bringing a bad reflection on us. He will never be able to work with Civil Defense again."

 

Rhodes said Warren worked as a junior member prior to turning 21, a requirement of the group's volunteers.

 

Warren's bosses at RMC brought the charges of forgery to the attention of police.

 

"When (Warren's supervisors at RMC) found out (about his arrest), they said they wouldn't fire hi m, but he couldn't come back to work until it was resolved," Wade said.

 

After making bond for the impersonation charge, Warren used an exoneration document he found on a state Web site to forge Municipal Judge Stan Allen's name, Partridge said. Partridge said Warren's supervisors at RMC called the Police Department concerning the form. He is now charged with a felony for signing the judge's name.

 

Warren was in the Calhoun County Jail Tuesday evening with a bond of $105,000, according to jail records.

 

Authorities are hoping any drivers Warren stopped, or anyone with whom he made contact while posing as an officer, will contact police. Wade said the Sheriff's Office also plans to pursue charges if Warren's victims come forward.

 

Anyone with information can contact Oxford police investigators at 831-3121.

 

Contact Staff Writer Rebecca Walker at 256-235-3562.

 

 

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I knew this guy and had worked for him before. Didn't see it coming at all.