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Police impersonator sentenced
A Coatesville man was convicted Thursday of Class D felony impersonation of a public servant.
Thomas Peyton, 65, was sentenced in Putnam County Circuit Court to two years with 14 days executed, 14 consecutive weekends to serve and the remainder suspended.
He was also ordered to report to the Putnam County Probation Department to receive the terms and conditions of his probation and pay the costs and fees associated with the cause.
Peyton was arrested June 18 after two people reported they had been stopped near Heritage Lake by an officer who refused to identify himself.
Peyton had an initial hearing on June 20, at which time his bond was set at $10,000 with 10 percent allowed. A plea agreement was filed in the case on Aug. 29, and sentencing was originally set for Oct. 9, but was continued twice at the request of Peyton's attorney, Gary Dilk.
Peyton had been employed at one time as a special deputy in Marion County. He was also a deputy constable there, and had worked as a guard at the Marion County 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 amiss 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.
A search warrant served on Peyton's residence just before his arrest turned up guns, identification badges that looked official, a portable radio, radar gun and red and blue lights in his car.