A Houston man who was expelled from a Houston-area police academy was arrested on a charge of impersonating an officer at the Texas Hall of Fame in Bryan.
James Kelly Taylor, 46, was wearing an empty gun holster and had empty magazines in a magazine pouch, a pair of handcuffs and a flashlight on a police-style duty belt, police said. Officers said he also had a cell phone case with an emblem on it that looked like a badge.
According to police documents, Taylor was walking around the bar, grabbing people by their arms and demanding that they identify themselves. He told bar patrons that he was a city marshal from Madisonville, a peace officer from Madisonville and a peace officer from "down South," the documents said.
"He stated that he was just trying to help the Texas Hall of Fame out," according to Officer Britton Guss.
The incident occurred May 11. Police allowed Taylor to leave the bar that night while they interviewed people. He was arrested Wednesday and was released after posting $5,000 bail.
Impersonating an officer is a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison.
