GREENSBORO NC March 21 2008 — Two men face charges of unlawfully presenting themselves as police officers — with trappings sophisticated enough to mislead the real thing.
The men, employees of Triton Special Police Department, a private security company, are accused of making illegal traffic stops, searches, arrests and violations of the N.C. Company Police Act in incidents going back to 2005.
Neither of the men are certified law enforcement officers, according to police.
Jeremiah Gaither, 35, of 5094 Jordan Valley Road, Lot 1, Trinity, has previous convictions for false imprisonment and impersonating an officer. Anthony Dwayne Turman, 45, 1615-A Fairfax Road, Greensboro, failed a basic law enforcement training class in 1995, and violated state Department of Justice rules governing private police in 1997, according to a search warrant application returned Wednesday.
Triton's owner, Melvin Dewitt Downing, 45, of 1504 Canton Ave., Greensboro, faces charges for employing the men to do unlawful police work.
Lt. Brian James said police began investigating after receiving several complaints about men acting as police officers.
They are not suspects in a March 9 incident where a woman was pulled over by a man impersonating a deputy, James said.
Turman wore a badge, drove a gray Ford Crown Victoria with blue lights, filled out at least seven police reports indicating he was a police officer, met with a Greensboro detective to talk about a case and ran training for Guilford Metro 911, according to the search warrant application.
Turman was charged Tuesday with impersonating a law enforcement officer, false imprisonment and violating the N.C. Company Police Act.
On Nov. 7, Turman stopped and searched a vehicle and handcuffed its driver while presenting himself to a Greensboro police officer as a law enforcement officer, according to an arrest warrant.
Gaither was charged Tuesday with two counts of impersonating a law enforcement officer, two counts of violating the N.C. Company Police Act and obtaining property by false pretenses.
Gaither presented himself as a police officer to the management of Madison Park Apartments by wearing a police uniform and displaying a badge "signifying to a reasonable person that the defendant was a law-enforcement officer," according to his arrest warrant.
Gaither provided foot patrols at the apartment complex from July 20, 2005, to May 31, 2007, in exchange for discounted rent, according to the search warrant application.
Gaither also conducted a search of a hotel room on Aug. 4, 2007, after convincing a Greensboro police officer he had the authority to do so. Gaither wore a police uniform and displayed a badge, according to an arrest warrant.
Downing has not reported payroll earnings on Turman or Gaither since late 2006, even though both are active employees, according to the search warrant application. The warrant says that Downing indicated to the state Justice Department that Gaither does only clerical work for him.
"(Downing) knew these guys were not certified, but he used these guys as police officers," James said.
Triton has a history of violating state rules regulating private police companies.
In May 2005, the company was found guilty of two violations — lapsed liability insurance and allowing security guards to wear uniforms similar to those worn by the company's certified police officers. The company was put on three years of probation for the violations, according to records filed with the state Office of Administrative Hearings.
A condition of the probation is complying with all state and federal rules and laws. Failure to comply may result in the revocation of the agency's certification, records say.
Triton was certified as a company police agency in August of 1994, and Downing has been a commissioned officer with the company since 1995, said state Department of Justice spokeswoman Noelle Talley.
Downing did not return a phone message left at Triton's headquarters. Turman and Gaither could not be reached for comment.
Police ask anyone with information about people impersonating law enforcement officers to call the Criminal Investigation Division at 373-2255.
The men, employees of Triton Special Police Department, a private security company, are accused of making illegal traffic stops, searches, arrests and violations of the N.C. Company Police Act in incidents going back to 2005.
Neither of the men are certified law enforcement officers, according to police.
Jeremiah Gaither, 35, of 5094 Jordan Valley Road, Lot 1, Trinity, has previous convictions for false imprisonment and impersonating an officer. Anthony Dwayne Turman, 45, 1615-A Fairfax Road, Greensboro, failed a basic law enforcement training class in 1995, and violated state Department of Justice rules governing private police in 1997, according to a search warrant application returned Wednesday.
Triton's owner, Melvin Dewitt Downing, 45, of 1504 Canton Ave., Greensboro, faces charges for employing the men to do unlawful police work.
Lt. Brian James said police began investigating after receiving several complaints about men acting as police officers.
They are not suspects in a March 9 incident where a woman was pulled over by a man impersonating a deputy, James said.
Turman wore a badge, drove a gray Ford Crown Victoria with blue lights, filled out at least seven police reports indicating he was a police officer, met with a Greensboro detective to talk about a case and ran training for Guilford Metro 911, according to the search warrant application.
Turman was charged Tuesday with impersonating a law enforcement officer, false imprisonment and violating the N.C. Company Police Act.
On Nov. 7, Turman stopped and searched a vehicle and handcuffed its driver while presenting himself to a Greensboro police officer as a law enforcement officer, according to an arrest warrant.
Gaither was charged Tuesday with two counts of impersonating a law enforcement officer, two counts of violating the N.C. Company Police Act and obtaining property by false pretenses.
Gaither presented himself as a police officer to the management of Madison Park Apartments by wearing a police uniform and displaying a badge "signifying to a reasonable person that the defendant was a law-enforcement officer," according to his arrest warrant.
Gaither provided foot patrols at the apartment complex from July 20, 2005, to May 31, 2007, in exchange for discounted rent, according to the search warrant application.
Gaither also conducted a search of a hotel room on Aug. 4, 2007, after convincing a Greensboro police officer he had the authority to do so. Gaither wore a police uniform and displayed a badge, according to an arrest warrant.
Downing has not reported payroll earnings on Turman or Gaither since late 2006, even though both are active employees, according to the search warrant application. The warrant says that Downing indicated to the state Justice Department that Gaither does only clerical work for him.
"(Downing) knew these guys were not certified, but he used these guys as police officers," James said.
Triton has a history of violating state rules regulating private police companies.
In May 2005, the company was found guilty of two violations — lapsed liability insurance and allowing security guards to wear uniforms similar to those worn by the company's certified police officers. The company was put on three years of probation for the violations, according to records filed with the state Office of Administrative Hearings.
A condition of the probation is complying with all state and federal rules and laws. Failure to comply may result in the revocation of the agency's certification, records say.
Triton was certified as a company police agency in August of 1994, and Downing has been a commissioned officer with the company since 1995, said state Department of Justice spokeswoman Noelle Talley.
Downing did not return a phone message left at Triton's headquarters. Turman and Gaither could not be reached for comment.
Police ask anyone with information about people impersonating law enforcement officers to call the Criminal Investigation Division at 373-2255.
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JOIN OUR NEW SOCIAL NETWORK…….www.privateofficer.com
On Sale NOW!
PROTECT YOURSELF!-Tasers, Pepper Spray, Stun Guns
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SECURITY BADGES, ID CARDS, EQUIPMENT---www.privateofficer.com
GET PAID TO SHOP!~ MAKE MONEY FROM HOME!~~~REALLY! CHECK IT OUT!
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