Man accused of impersonating officer

By Staff (89649)

Friday, March 18, 2011
© Copyright 2013 Newton Citizen

Photo by Julie Wells

COVINGTON -- The Newton County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man accused of impersonating a police officer and are investigating allegations, according to NCSO spokesman Lt. Tyrone Oliver.

Andra Cortez Marks, 34, of 210 First Ave., was taken into custody around 8:45 p.m. Thursday after police received a tip that he was driving a vehicle designed to look like a police unit and was stopping people. He is charged with impersonating a public officer or employee.

"His vehicle is a Crown Vic, just like ours," Oliver said. "It's tan, but it doesn't have the sheriff's logo on it. It is equipped with a push bumper, strobe lights and a siren."

Oliver said typically former vehicles used as police units are sold at auction, but all law enforcement equipment has been removed from them.

"We're not sure of his motive in putting all the equipment back in this vehicle," Oliver said.

Also, a set of handcuffs were recovered from the vehicle.

Oliver said the accusation that Marks had actually stopped individuals and presented himself as a law enforcement officer was still under investigation.

Marks was in the Cedar Creek subdivision off Ga. Highway 36 when the tip came in that his car "look(s) like a police car and (he is) using lights and sirens to stop people in the neighborhood."

Oliver said investigators are also looking back at previous reports of officer impersonation to see if Marks can be tied to those incidents.

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