9/11/13 - A man caught impersonating an officer by a local police chief is scheduled to appear in court today. 25-year-old Matthew Henry Norton was arrested at around 3pm last Wednesday following an incident that occurred in Centennial Park off North Grand Avenue in Fowlerville. Police Chief Tom Couling says Norton approached a group of teenagers and displayed a badge that he was wearing around his neck on a chain. He says Norton was dressed in all black clothing, black boots and carrying a briefcase and indicated he was a federal agent. Couling says Norton requested that some of the youth present identification, which he took and photographed with his cell phone. He says Norton then acted as though he was calling in to check on warrants for the individuals and warned that if they did not comply, he would call in a police K9. Couling and another officer were taking a crash report that was just adjacent to the park when he says the kids came up to express concerns about the manâs true identify. Couling says they approached Norton, who was displaying a badge, and said he was a police officer. However, when they requested Nortonâs identification, he attempted to flee but Couling was able to grab onto him and subsequently place him under arrest. Norton has since been charged with false personation of a public officer and resisting/obstructing a police officer in 53rd District Court, where he is scheduled to appear later this morning. (JM)
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