'Impersonator' Who Conducted Traffic Stop Was Sheriff's Deputy

CANTON, GA -- The man who conducted a traffic stop Sunday evening on a motorist on Interstate 575 in Canton was, in fact, a certified law enforcement officer, the Cherokee Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. The cop who pulled the woman over for allegedly impeding the flow of traffic is employed with the Barrow County Sheriff's Office, Cherokee Sheriff Frank Reynolds said.

The woman told sheriff's deputy that she was traveling northbound between exits 14 and 16 when a dark gray, two-door Dodge Ram pickup truck initially passed her, but slowed down and pulled in behind her.

Reynolds said in a press conference that the deputy said he pulled over the motorist for erratic driving and impeding traffic flow along the interstate. Reynolds, who described the vehicle as a "non-traditional" law enforcement patrol car, said the truck was equipped with the emergency flashing lights.

According to an incident report released by the sheriff's office, the woman said the deputy opened her door and asked for her driver's license.

When she asked for whom the deputy worked, the man allegedly said he was a "sheriff marshal" and did not provide his name, the report contends. The male displayed his badge on his belt and, at that point "began to pat her down with the palms of his hands and asked her if she was wearing a padded bra," the report adds.

The woman said she told the deputy that "several members" of her family were law enforcement officers and added she felt the encounter was "suspicious." She decided to file a report after speaking with her father, the report notes.

Reynolds said the Barrow sheriff's deputy disputes 95 percent of what the woman alleges, adding he never patted her down and that he identified himself to the motorist. He also said he was working in an off-duty capacity when he conducted the stop.

Police were able to track down the identity of the deputy and the agency that owns the Dodge Ram because the motorist was able to write down some of the numbers on the truck's tag. They ran the tag through the database, and Reynolds reached out to Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith to follow-up on the case.

While it's infrequent and not illegal for officers to pull over motorists outside of their jurisdictions, Reynolds say it does happen on occasion. In this instance, the situation could have been resolved sooner if the Barrow sheriff's deputy informed his Cherokee County counterparts of the traffic stop or, at least, called 9-1-1 dispatchers to relay what was happening.

"While we appreciate all of our adjoining and sister law enforcement agencies not only here in metro Atlanta but throughout the state and nation we would always prefer that an officer from outside our jurisdiction request assistance from us prior to initiating law enforcement action within Cherokee County," the sheriff's office added in a statement. "If it cannot be done prior to the law enforcement action then notify us immediately upon completion of that action. We work very hard to cultivate the relationship we have with our citizens and would not want that jeopardized by the actions of an outside agency."

The matter will be turned over to the Barrow County Sheriff's Office for administrative review, and Cherokee sheriff's investigators will continue to follow up on the case on their end. Reynolds declined to identify the sheriff's deputy, but added "he's got some rank" in Barrow County.

This is the second time within the last six months that a law enforcement official in plain clothes has pulled over a motorist in Cherokee County.

In September, a man recorded a video of his encounter with a driver who was later identified as a federal agent with the U.S. Department of Treasury. In that instance, the agent never identified himself on camera to the motorist, but was wearing a blue and white striped Polo shirt, blue jeans, a badge with unidentified markings on his belt and a weapon on his hip.

Patch has reached out to the Barrow County Sheriff's Office for a statement. Return for updates.

Photo: Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds addresses the media during a press conference held Tuesday. Credit: Kristal Dixon