Fulton man hit with misdemeanor charge for allegedly impersonating federal officer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Fulton man was charged Wednesday with a misdemeanor for allegedly impersonating a U.S. marshal and felonies for a drug crime and resisting arrest.

John P. Wallace, 56, was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer and fourth-degree assault -- both misdemeanors -- along with attempting to steal drugs and resisting arrest, which are low-level felonies.

Police say Wallace forced his way into a woman's vehicle after flashing a fake marshal's badge and saying "Give me the marijuana back."

Wallace allegedly hit the woman with the vehicle door and pushed her to the ground in the parking lot of a business in the 1400 block of North Bluff Street. Video footage from outside the store confirmed the victim's story, according to a probable cause statement.

Wallace then returned to his vehicle and backed into a private drive, "attempting to hide himself along with his vehicle," the statement says.

Officers tried to get Wallace out of his vehicle for 45 minutes when they got to the scene, the statement says. Wallace did not display his hands as commanded when he got out and was shot with a bean bag gun, police say.

Investigators found a loaded handgun, a fake marshal's badge and three small bottles of liquor when they searched his vehicle, the statement says.

Wallace remained in the Callaway County Jail on Thursday morning with no bond. An initial court appearance was set for Friday.