Name of man accused in Fulton standoff not yet public

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ)

Callaway County's top prosecutor and local police are yet to release the name of a man accused of impersonating a federal officer and engaging in a standoff with authorities Tuesday.

Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Sandra Colhour told ABC 17 News on Wednesday that she would not disclose the suspect's name. Fulton police did not respond to requests for information. Charging information was not available in state or federal court records.

Police wrote in a Tuesday press release that they were called to the area of Route Z and Bluff Street for “a subject that had removed a female from inside of her vehicle while claiming to be a Federal Law Enforcement Officer and showing a badge.”

The man allegedly ran away after officers arrived. The man was found and a standoff occurred that required police to call in assistance from the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office, who brought its armored vehicle, the release says.

Such incidents are rare, Colhour said.

"I can only think of maybe a couple of times in the last four or five years in Callaway County that someone has faced charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer," Colhour said.

Impersonating a law enforcement agent, federal or local, is considered a Class A misdemeanor under Missouri law. The maximum punishment is a year in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

Kansas City FBI spokeswoman Bridget Patton said people can report someone they believe is impersonating a federal agent by contacting their local FBI office or submitting a tip online.

Sgt. Crystal Kent of Callaway County Sheriff's Office said she cautions people more about online scams where an officer claims the recipient of the call has to pay a fine or ticket. Kent said law enforcement will never call to demand money.

Kent said a sheriff's deputy can be identified by their badge, uniform and identification card, which deputies show upon request.

Boone County Sheriff's Office Capt. Brian Leer said some giveaways of someone impersonating an officer are odd-looking uniforms, a cheap or unmarked vehicle and odd vocabulary and statements.

Both Kent and Leer said that if someone is suspicious of an officer, it's okay to ask for an officer's identification or call 911 or a non-emergency number.