Watch Ga. Police Arrest Phony Officer Directing Traffic

A man claiming to be a Georgia police officer while directing traffic at a busy intersection was taken into custody by the real police Tuesday.

The deception was uncovered when a Norcross police officer noticed a man identified as Darryl Henderson dressed in a police uniform directing traffic, WSB-TV reports. Henderson, who was wearing a duty belt and a holstered handgun, told the officer that he was directing traffic part time for a private company. His uniform, however, was from Talbotton, a city roughly 100 miles from Atlanta.

Suspicious about Henderson's claim, the Norcross officer contacted the Talbotton Police Department. The department said Henderson had worked there, but he had been terminated on Feb. 8.

Henderson was arrested and charged with impersonating an officer.

“The public should be concerned. if they see someone who doesn’t look like a police officer, call the local police agency and raise that to their attention," Lt. Robert Braud told WSB. "We need to know."