An 18-year-old Madison Comprehensive High School Student, James Simmons, has been charged with impersonating a peace officer, possession of criminal tools and unlawful restraint.
According to a news release issued by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, the sheriff’s office recently received complaints of a white, unmarked police cruiser with flashing lights in the grill that had been pulling motorists over.
During a routine patrol in the Madison area on Friday, Sgt. Scott Kotterman noticed a “suspicious” vehicle in the parking lot at Madison Comprehensive High School, the sheriff’s report states. The driver was identified as a student and was interviewed.
Simmons admitted making eight to 12 car stops since Oct. 13 of this year. He said during one of the stops, he approached a friend of his, but he did not recall stopping a victim that deputies had listed on a general offense report. The report says that no other victims have come forward at this time.
According to the report, Simmons purchased the vehicle (an ex-police car) on Oct. 13. His vehicle was a vehicle of interest in several complaints to deputies of someone stopping citizens with an unmarked police car with lights in the grill, the report adds. The vehicle was impounded pending his court appearance.
The report also states that Simmons didn’t mean any harm and cooperated fully with the investigation.
Anyone who has been stopped by Simmons’ vehicle since Oct. 13 is asked to contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Office at 419-774-5881.
