Man accused of using repo man’s badge
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
BENTONVILLE — A Rogers man was arrested Monday after he tried to pass off a repossession agent’s badge as a police officer’s badge when trying to stop a 16-year-old in Bentonville on Saturday night.
On Monday, the Bentonville Police Department arrested Jesse Lee Chastain II, 18, of Rogers, for criminal impersonation in the first degree, according to a news release from the Bentonville Police Department.
The arrest was the result of an investigation that began Saturday evening, when the mother of a 16-year-old female reported that a suspicious vehicle had attempted to conduct a traffic stop on her daughter.
It was reported that the driver of a 1998 Dodge Dakota had pulled up alongside the 16-year-old, displayed a badge and motioned for her to pull over.
Rather than pulling over, she continued to drive home. As she drove, she contacted her mother by cell phone.
The driver of the Dakota followed the girl home and likewise displayed the badge to the mother and also told the mother he was a police officer.
Still suspicious of the driver, the mother told him to leave, and she notified the Bentonville Police Department.
After the mother and daughter provided details and descriptions of the suspect, he was identified as Jesse Lee Chastain II and was arrested.
At the time of his arrest, Chastain was found in possession of a gold badge with an Arkansas state seal in the center. The badge inscription states “ Repossession Recovery Agent. ” It is similar in design and appearance to badges used by local law enforcement.
Chastain was being held in the Benton County Jail awaiting a bond and probablecause hearing.
Arkansas state law requires officers to identify themselves by full name and jurisdiction, as well as stating the reason for any traffic stop.
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