More charges pending in cop impersonator case

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Police say a man posing as a Clayton County sheriff’s deputy could face more charges for having a car full of law enforcement equipment, including a gun and a bulletproof vest.

Darryl Lebron Cummings II, 23, remains in the Clayton County jail, charged with impersonating an officer, carrying a concealed weapon and speeding.

Jonesboro Police are still investigating what he was doing with that equipment and additional charges are pending, Lt. Wayne Woods said Tuesday.

Police stopped Cummings early Monday morning in Jonesboro after spotting him speeding 20 mph over the limit, Woods said.

Police reports obtained by the AJC show when he was stopped Cummings was wearing a hood over his head and a pair of black gloves that read “sheriff."

An officer spotted a loaded 9 mm strapped to Cummings’ hip after he bent down to retrieve a dropped driver's license, according to the report.

Cummings initially told the officer he was a Clayton County sheriff’s deputy. However, after questioning from the officer, he admitted that he had only taken the entry test and had not been hired, the report states.

Cummings then said he was an investigator with the Air Force.

He showed the officer an ID that read “special agent” and appeared to be photo copied.

“Upon examination of the ID, it was plain to see it was a forgery,” officers wrote in the report.

In addition to the gun and several IDs, police seized a bulletproof vest, two rain coats that read police on the back and several ammunition clips and a black shirt that read police on the back. He also had an Air Force beret and a holster, police said.

"It's hazardous for anyone who is not law enforcement to be walking around with equipment like that and posing as an officer," Woods said.

Woods said some of that equipment can be purchased at police or military stores, but it is not to be worn by civilians.

A spokesman for the Air Force said Cummings “separated” from the Air Force in June 2008.

Sheriff Kem Kimbrough said he will review Cummings’ application, but he likely won’t be hired.

“I think it’s safe to say that he does not have a bright future ahead of him here,” he said.

On Monday, a judge granted Cummings a $21,000 bond. As of Tuesday afternoon, he remained in jail.

Cummings, of Jonesboro, graduated from Lovejoy High School.