Impersonating a cop in Houston seems to be the latest criminal trend, as two men have been nabbed in separate incidents for posing as lawmen. In the most recent case, a man was caught with his own mock squad car, complete with flashing lights, body armor, a firearm and pilfered driver's licenses.
54-year-old Adrian Dwayne Johnican is currently cooling his heels in jail, facing a quartet of felony charges that include unlawful possession of a firearm and body armor, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and fraudulent use of identifying information, ABC13 reported. Authorities got wind of Johnican's charade after observing a car adorned with makeshift tags—and promptly gave chase when a passenger bailed out of the vehicle.
"It gives the court concern that he was wearing a uniform visually similar to that of a police officer, complete with bulletproof vest, utility belt, and a service revolver," a hearing officer noted, stressing the serious nature of these criminal antics. Johnican, with a lengthy rap sheet to his name, had purportedly claimed to be a security guard despite no record of licensing and a prohibition against carrying a weapon due to his felon status, according to court records.
In a bizarrely similar scenario, Shaun Arnold, another alleged poser, attempted to pull a fast one on undercover deputies during a Houston racing event. Arnold's masquerade ended when those same deputies became suspicious and alerted marked units, who later recovered a stash of law enforcement-esque gear from his white Hyundai Santa Fe, including a bulletproof vest, and a security badge FOX26 Houston detailed. Having previously been convicted for the same offense in Jefferson County, Arnold seems to be a repeat offender in this deceptive craft.
Both cases underscore a troubling trend in Houston where police impersonation not only compromises public trust but also poses direct threats to community safety. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, now on high alert for such frauds, is asking for anyone with additional information relating to Arnold's offenses to make contact. Meanwhile, Professor Greg Fremin, former captain with HPD, encapsulated the gravity of the situation in an interview with ABC13, "This is very serious. He had body armor on. What was he doing with body armor? Was he expecting to get in a shootout with law enforcement if he went and did something?"
With Johnican having acquired the dubious title of "habitual offender" and both scammers facing serious charges, Houston's finest are assiduously unraveling these deceitful dress-ups. As the situation unfolds, Houston's citizens are reminded to remain wary—real cops don't stop for impersonators.
