A man was arrested Saturday after he reportedly impersonated a police officer and, dressed in uniform, directed traffic for a funeral procession, according to police records.
The man, identified as Danny Ponder of Mableton, worked for the DeKalb County Police Department from September 1988 to April 1989, according to an arrest warrant obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His police certification was revoked in 1989.
As he directed traffic to the funeral about 12:30 p.m. April 4, Ponder wore a navy blue police uniform with shoulder patches that had the word “POLICE” on each side, according to the warrant.
Authorities said he also wore a badge stating “SPECIAL SERVICES POLICE, STATE OF GEORGIA” and a black leather gun belt containing a pistol, two spare 10-round magazines, handcuffs in a pouch and a radio that didn’t work.
Ponder is accused of further impersonating an officer by operating a 2005 Honda Motorcycle with red and white flashing lights and a working siren, police said.
Ponder was arrested at 212 Riverside Pkwy. in Austell, according to the warrant. That is the location of the Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral.
He has since been released from the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on a $5,000 bond.
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