Brookwood Man Nabbed In Coaling For Impersonating Police Officer

COALING, AL — A Brookwood man is behind bars and charged with several felonies, including impersonating a police officer.

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The Coaling Police Department said it was contacted on Sept. 5 regarding a possible traffic stop on Dudley Road in the Coaling Police Jurisdiction, with the complainant saying that a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with engaged siren and red and blue lights in the grill got behind them.

The individual ultimately believed it was a police officer and pulled over, before the Explorer behind them also pulled off the road in front of them around noon.

The complainant said the man in the Explorer waived for them to come around so the complainant pulled away, before contacting a second party and telling them what had happened. This second person then contacted the Coaling Police Department to file a report.

After information was passed to CPD, Coaling Police officer Jacob Free was reportedly on the lookout for the suspect vehicle and made contact with it later in the afternoon in the Coaling Marathon parking lot, where the Explorer's red and blue lights were engaged.

Free and a Vance Police officer then made contact with the driver — Joshua Dale Salters of Brookwood. In his possession, officers found five grams of methamphetamine, 12 counterfeit $100 bills, a ski mask, handcuffs, a Recovery Agent badge, two handguns, a tactical vest, an air soft AR-15 rifle, 223 rounds of 9mm, and brass knuckles.

Salters was ultimately arrested without incident and charged with possession of a forged instrument, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of brass knuckles, and impersonation of a peace officer.

Following the arrest, Coaling Police Chief Stewart Deerman commended Officer Jacob Free and Vance Police Officer Chris White for their efforts, along with Vance Police Chief Tommy Graham and the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force.

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