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Alleged police impersonator caught
A man who has allegedly been impersonating a police officer in the Heritage Lake area was apprehended Wednesday.
Sheriff Mark Frisbie said Thomas Peyton, 65, Coatesville, was employed by Marion County at one time as a special deputy, as well as being a deputy constable, both of which gave him full enforcement rights. He was also employed by Marion County as a security guard at the City-County Building.
Peyton was relieved of his Wayne Township duties on March 16. Then on May 2, he was let go by Marion County.
On May 21 at 1:30 p.m., Peyton followed a Heritage Lake resident into her driveway and approached her. He flashed a badge and began yelling at her for speeding. When she asked for his name, he told her it was none of her business, threw her license and registration at her and took off.
A second incident occurred on May 26. A Roachdale woman was on C.R. 25 East turning onto U.S. 36 when she was pulled over by what she believed to be an off-duty police officer. Peyton approached the car and performed a typical traffic stop; however, the woman believed something to be awry and asked for the officer's identification.
Following the traffic stop, the Roachdale resident drove into Bainbridge and saw Marshal Rodney Fenwick sitting in his police cruiser. She told him about the stop, at which time Fenwick went to investigate and hoped to find the vehicle.
On Wednesday, Detective Pat McFadden served a search warrant on Peyton's residence.
The Sheriff's Department found guns, identification badges that looked official, a portable radio, radar gun and red and blue lights in his car. At that time, he was arrested and taken to Putnam County Jail.
Peyton is set to appear in Circuit Court Friday at 2 p.m. for his initial hearing.