In a bizarre turn of events, Shaun Arnold found himself on the wrong side of the law when he was arrested over the weekend for impersonating a police officer in West Houston.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) reported that Arnold attempted to pull over undercover deputies in the Memorial neighborhood on Saturday while driving a white Hyundai Santa Fe equipped with emergency lights and sirens, per KHOU 11.
The undercover deputies recognized the ruse and alerted their department, leading to Arnold’s arrest.
HCSO reported that deputies discovered a cache of equipment in Arnold’s possession, including a fake police uniform, ballistic vest, body-worn camera, fake badge, BB gun, Taser, police radios, and various other items related to law enforcement.
Arnold has a history of similar offenses, according to KHOU 11. He was convicted of impersonating an officer in 2001 in Jefferson County and arrested the following year for the same charge in Illinois. He was again convicted of the same charge in 2015 in Missouri.
He also has multiple convictions in Missouri for stealing vehicles and committing other thefts.
In Dallas, there have been six reports of criminal impersonation so far this year, according to the City of Dallas crime analytics dashboard. Meanwhile, there have been 4,617 motor vehicle thefts amid an ongoing police shortage that has the Dallas Police Department short some 1,000 officers or so.
Arnold was charged with impersonating a police officer and being a felon in possession of body armor. His bond was set at $15,000, per KHOU 11.
In Texas, impersonating a public servant is classified as a third-degree felony. This offense carries a maximum fine of $10,000 and a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. However, the penalty for repeat offenders can be increased.
The HCSO has urged individuals with any pertinent information regarding Arnold’s activities to come forward, as they suspect there may be more victims of his officer impersonation scheme. HCSO can be reached at 713-274-7433 or via email at [email protected].
