Florida Man Bailed Out After Impersonating an Officer Arrested Again for Allegedly Using Fake Badge to Avoid $2 Toll Charge

A man in Florida has been arrested on suspicion of impersonating an officer just days after he was put in jail for the same offense.

The Flagler County Sheriff's Office said they were given a tip-off on March 12 that a man was displaying a law enforcement badge to avoid paying a toll for the Hammock Dunes Bridge in Palm Coast.

The tip came from a toll bridge manager who told detectives that they can provide surveillance footage showing the suspect flashing a silver badge on two separate occasions on March 11.

On-duty law enforcement officers are allowed to cross the bridge without paying the $2 charge.

While reviewing footage, the FSCO identified the driver showing the badge as 60-year-old Leroy Stotelmyer, who was arrested three days previously on March 9 on suspicion of impersonating a law enforcement officer and shoplifting.

During the investigation, other toll bridge employees alleged that Stotelmyer had flashed a silver or gold badge several times over the last few months, claiming he was a U.S. Air Marshall. Stotelmyer had also reportedly asked staff members about cameras on the bridge and their functions.

One toll bridge attendant told officers that the last time he attempted to avoid the toll, he presented Stotelmyer with an article from Daytona Beach News-Journal detailing his March 9 arrest. Stotelmyer then put away his fake badge and paid the $2 charge in full.

"This guy clearly has not learned his lesson and has no respect for the law," Sheriff Rick Staly said.

"Two days after his release and he is already up to his old tricks. We know already that he thinks he can get out of shoplifting and paying tolls with his fake badge, I am happy we were able to get him back off the streets before something more serious occurs. He thinks he wants to be a cop, now he gets to see what it's like to be an inmate."

Stotelmyer was arrested and taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. He is being held with no bond on charges of felony violation of pretrial release in connection with his previous arrest and impersonating an officer.

During the March 9 incident, FCSO responded to a shoplifting incident at the Publix at 4950 Belle Terre Parkway involving a suspect who claimed he was a U.S. Marshall.

Stotelmyer was allegedly caught by a Loss Prevention Officer attempting to steal two boxes of potatoes and a grouper fillet. Stotelmyer told him he was a Marshal, then dropped the goods and left the store.

When the officer approached him in the parking lot, Stotelmyer allegedly showed him a gold badge that read United States Marshal.

"This guy took a minor shoplifting charge and turned it in to a felony by flashing a shiny gold badge trying to get away with committing crimes," Staly said. "Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a felony offense and will not be tolerated. I hope he learns his lesson."

Stotelmyer was arrested on suspicion of false impersonation of a federal law enforcement officer, petit shoplifting, and resisting a merchant. He was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility but later released after posting a $3,500 bond.