Police Impersonator/Armed Robber Apprehended in Gwinnett

Gwinnett County Police have apprehended the man wanted by several agencies for crimes committed while impersonating an officer.

Matthew Buddin, 33, also is accused of committing an armed robbery at a Lawrenceville-area Rite Aid on Tuesday, May 13.

Buddin was arrested at 1:37 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at 3363 River Summit Trail in Duluth, according to Gwinnett Police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith.

An officer spotted Buddin on a motorcycle at 1:07 p.m., but he eluded capture. After checking addresses associated with him, police found his motorcycle at the Duluth residence and made the arrest.

“Buddin attempted to flee the residence on foot as officers approached but was quickly apprehended,” Smith said in a released statement.

Police said Buddin used a handgun and demanded Xanax and Tramadol from the Lawrenceville pharmacy during Tuesday’s robbery. He forced employees to the ground.

After obtaining a few bottles of pills, he fled the scene on a gold-color motorcycle, police said.

Smith said several other agencies have cases against Buddin, including the Lawrenceville Police Department, Duluth Police Department, and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

“In multiple cases, Buddin displayed a Gwinnett County Police badge, along with a handgun holstered on his belt, and claimed to be a police officer,” Smith wrote. “Investigation into this and several other cases is ongoing.”

Buddin was nearly captured Monday during a SWAT standoff at a Lawrenceville motel.

According to WSB-TV, Buddin is wanted for a series of shoplifting and fraud crimes at Walmarts in Gwinnett and Forsyth counties, during which he displayed the police badge and was wearing a holstered gun.