The deputy coroner in Lumpkin County has been suspended without pay after she allegedly impersonated a police officer at a Forsyth County tavern.

About 10:50 p.m. Aug. 30, Sonya Abercrombie and a friend went to Austin’s Tavern in Cumming and ordered drinks, Forsyth sheriff’s spokesman Doug Rainwater told Channel 2 Action News.

When a waitress asked for IDs, Abercrombie allegedly flashed a badge, then told the waitress she was a police officer and did not need to present an ID.

Management did not believe Abercrombie was an officer and called 911, Rainwater said. Responding deputies arrested her on a charge of impersonating a police officer. She was booked into the Forsyth jail, but was released on bond.

The friend with Abercrombie was not arrested, Rainwater said.

Lumpkin coroner Ronald Fortner told Channel 2 that Abercrombie will be suspended until the case is settled.

Lumpkin County is more than 60 miles northeast of Atlanta.

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