"Hello, I'm Captain Christie" — that's how a 74-year-old Bruce Christie allegedly introduced himself to a Gwinnett police officer during a traffic stop this week.
Problem is, police say, he's not really a captain. Or a cop of any kind.
"Christie displayed an ID card and badge from Cottonwood Police Department in Alabama," Cpl. Deon Washington said in a news release. "The officer informed Christie that he had spoken to the chief of police from Cottonwood and knew that he was not an employee. He was then placed under arrest."
The trouble began Monday for Christie. On that day, the Tucker resident allegedly went to a Norcross pawn shop called Dynasty Jewelry and Loan, where he showed an employee the aforementioned ID badge. The employee "thought that this was suspicious as police do not display their official credentials to complete a pawn transaction."
On Tuesday morning, a Gwinnett County police officer went to the pawn shop to gather more information about the case — and Christie walked in. The officer found his behavior "odd," Washington said, and returned to his car to call the Cottonwood Police Department and see if Christie was indeed an officer there.
He was not, Washington said.
While the officer was still in his car, Christie got into his and drove off. The officer followed and, during the subsequent traffic stop, exchanged words with Christie. Christie allegedly showed the officer the Cottonwood ID card and badge and claimed he was a current officer.
Online records showed Christie remained in the Gwinnett County jail Friday on one count of impersonating an officer, a felony.
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