Last Updated on January 5, 2023, 12:08 PM | Published: January 4, 2023
0KLAHOMA COUNTY — A 19-year-old male was arrested on New Year’s Day near Choctaw in eastern Oklahoma County for impersonating a police officer.
At publication, Jackson David Jones, from Tennessee, is still in the Oklahoma County Jail on complaints of
- impersonating a police officer and
- having an open container in his car.
The morning of January 1, residents near Choctaw began calling 911 to report someone suspicious making car stops and questioning people.
When Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Deputies caught up with Jones, they discovered that he was wearing equipment that would have led untrained observers to think that he was some sort of law enforcement officer.
Clothes and equipment he was wearing at the time of his arrest included:
- Black clothing and a black cap
- Black plate carrier containing two balistic Kevlar level 3A panels
- A “Sheriff” patch attached to the plate carrier
- Chrome handcuffs attached on the plate carrier
- Two knives carried on the plate carrier
- Sunglasses attached to the plate carrier
- Radio lapel mic with ear piece (no radio)
- Duty belt with black Smith and Wesson handcuffs and chrome handcuffs attached, plus a streamlight flashlight
Jones’ vehicle had no law enforcement markings.
Deputies gained permission to search Jones’ car and “located five bottles of Mike’s hard lemonade. Two full bottles, one partially drank and two empties,” according to the arrest report.
Sheriff’s warnings
At a news conference at the Sheriff’s Office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III gave some advice for citizens who may be out on the road and thinking that maybe they are not being stopped by a real law enforcement officer.
“You can always call 911, get a hold of dispatch,” said Johnson. “And, if someone is pulling you over from any one of the agencies in this area in this county, or in the state, our dispatch should know that they’re out on traffic with you, and they will be able to confirm that through a 911 call.”
Johnson advised anyone out on the road to not just pull over because someone is flashing their headlights and motioning for them to pull over.
“I would wait for the red and blues,” said Johnson referring to the strobe lights typically used by sworn law enforcment. “If you just see people flashing behind you. I wouldn’t pull over for just that, especially out in these rural areas.”
Real officers quick to show credentials
Johnson emphasized that true sworn law enforcement officers are prepared to show indentification beyond a badge.
“If you don’t believe that I’m legitimate. I should be able, as a law enforcement officer, to provide credentials that shows I am,” Johnson said to the public.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.
