"Man Posed as Cop, Threatened People With Gun" - Keller, TX

[fickman]

This is down the highway from me in a relatively nice area. It brings up a lot of "what-if" tactical questions. . .

From the Star Telegram:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/21 ... eople.html

Man posed as cop, threatened people with gun, Keller police say
Posted Monday, Feb. 21, 2011

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/21 ... z1EdciUULQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

By Susan McFarland
smcfarland@star-telegram.com

A man who Keller police said posed as a law enforcement officer was arrested Friday after it was reported that he threatened three people at gunpoint in a gas station parking lot.

Lt. Brenda Slovak, criminal investigations commander, said the victims, all in their early 20s, told police that a man approached their car between 2-3 a.m. Thursday in the parking lot of the QT gas station in the 700 block of South Main Street.

The victims told police that the man put the gun to the car window, made threatening remarks and informed them he was “a cop.”

Slovak said after Billy Pricer, 68, was identified in a photo lineup by all three people in the car, an arrest warrant was issued.

Police arrested Pricer at the No Frills Grill and Sports Bar in the 800 block of South Main Street about 8:30 p.m. Friday, Slovak said.

She said at the time of his arrest, Pricer was carrying a Colt .45-caliber semi-automatic hand gun and belt and wallet badges from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in California.

Slovak said police are not sure what started the incident.

"We do not think there was an altercation," she said. "Pricer did not tell us why he did it."

But, she said it may have started with a glance.

"Billy saw them looking at him in the parking lot of QT and it appeared he was offended," Slovak said.

Police are still investigating and trying to determine if Pricer has any affiliation with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Pricer, a Fort Worth resident, was booked on suspicion of deadly conduct and unlawful carrying of a weapon, Slovak said. He later was released on a $5,000 bond, she said.

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/21 ... z1EdcaRXYW" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PUCKER]

I used to work at the Mr. Jim's Pizza across the street (back in high school/college daze).

[C-dub]

2-3 o'clock in the morning? I know some folks have a good reason to be out at that time, but that old rule about nothing good happens after midnight is holding true.

68 and impersonating a LA County Sheriff's Deputy, wow! Not the brightest light on the car, is he?

[Beiruty]

He could be a cop:

She said at the time of his arrest, Pricer was carrying a Colt .45-caliber semi-automatic hand gun and belt and wallet badges from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in California.

[HotLeadSolutions]

He could be a cop:

She said at the time of his arrest, Pricer was carrying a Colt .45-caliber semi-automatic hand gun and belt and wallet badges from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in California.

He might indeed be a cop...WITH NO JURISDICTION IN TEXAS...

[Beiruty]

Deadly conduct may stick but not UCW. Most likely charges would be dropped due to lack of evidence. Just speculating.

[C-dub]

He might plead it down, but with several people identifying him and having nearly the same story, I think they have plenty of evidence.

[Fangs]

Deadly conduct may stick but not UCW. Most likely charges would be dropped due to lack of evidence. Just speculating.

Unless he got the UCW for being in a 51% establishment at the time of his arrest.

[Beiruty]

Deadly conduct may stick but not UCW. Most likely charges would be dropped due to lack of evidence. Just speculating.

Unless he got the UCW for being in a 51% establishment at the time of his arrest.

Active LEO are exempted from this rule, no?

[Crossfire]

Deadly conduct may stick but not UCW. Most likely charges would be dropped due to lack of evidence. Just speculating.

Unless he got the UCW for being in a 51% establishment at the time of his arrest.

Active LEO are exempted from this rule, no?

Anyone can buy a badge online. He is 68 years old and a Fort worth resident. You REALLY think he is active LEO with the Los Angeles county sheriff department?

[srothstein]

I don't think he is an active LEO, as that would have been verified almost immediately.

But he could have been legally carrying under LEOSA as a retired LASD deputy. He might not have had all the paperwork required to prove that on him at the time, or they might not have believed his status until they verified with the LASD in the morning (well, on Tuesday during normal business hours).

That still would not cover the deadly conduct charge though or justify the behavior if it went down as reported. But with all three witnesses having been in a group at once, I am not willing to put as much credence in the fact that all three agreed on what happened. It doesn't mean they lied, but it also allows for the possibility that they worked out the details amongst themselves, either consciously or subconsciously by talking while waiting for the police.

[tacticool]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought deadly conduct was for reckless behavior.

If he threatened them, that's assault. If he threatened them with a gun, that's aggravated assault. I'd like to know why he wasn't charged with aggravated assault, a felony of the second degree.

[fickman]

I work out at the 24 Hour Fitness nearby. . . often around or after midnight. (I work from home but support a global customer and often have meetings in other time zones.) It wouldn't be unreasonable for me to end up at QT around this time.

I'm stuck as to what I would do. I start second-guessing my internal threat-level meter when I see a badge and the claim of being an officer - even if he's not in uniform. This hesitation makes me extremely vulnerable to the police impersonator, but less likely to engage in a shootout with a careless officer, even if s/he's well meaning.

If I saw the gun first, I'm sure I'd draw and given an ultimatum. If I then saw the badge, I'd prefer to call 911 to verify that he's an officer, but that's not practical if the gun is already present and you have a car window or less between you.

If I saw the badge first, I'd probably hesitate to draw at all, even if the rest of the situation didn't add up.

Thoughts???

[KD5NRH]

But he could have been legally carrying under LEOSA as a retired LASD deputy. He might not have had all the paperwork required to prove that on him at the time, or they might not have believed his status until they verified with the LASD in the morning (well, on Tuesday during normal business hours).

If it was the county clerk's office, I could see having to wait until a business day to verify employment status, but I have a funny feeling that LASD has somebody answering the phones 24x7, and they'd be perfectly capable of checking a badge number for name and active/retired status at any time.

[srothstein]

But he could have been legally carrying under LEOSA as a retired LASD deputy. He might not have had all the paperwork required to prove that on him at the time, or they might not have believed his status until they verified with the LASD in the morning (well, on Tuesday during normal business hours).

If it was the county clerk's office, I could see having to wait until a business day to verify employment status, but I have a funny feeling that LASD has somebody answering the phones 24x7, and they'd be perfectly capable of checking a badge number for name and active/retired status at any time.

I would guess they could check active but they may not be able to check retired status. It took a Texas law requiring this a couple years ago before our departments could check anything other than active.