ROGERS — A man was arrested Wednesday after flashing a badge he was never issued and posing as a police officer at a gasoline station across from the Rogers Police Department, authorities said.
Travis Lee Blake France, 24, of 2230 S. 21st. St. in Rogers was arrested Wednesday in connection with felony first-degree criminal impersonation, possessing emergency lights and sirens by prohibited persons and a felony parole violation.
France told police he used the badge and told employees he was an undercover officer in order to get free drinks from Kum & Go, said Keith Foster, public information officer for Rogers police.
Employees at Kum & Go, 1701 W. New Hope Road, asked two Rogers detectives Wednesday morning about a man who had been coming into the store claiming to be a police officer, Foster said.
A Kum & Go manager gave the detectives a photo of France. One employee told detectives France said he was an undercover Rogers officer, the other said France said he was an undercover Gentry officer.
Detectives took the photo to the Kum & Go at 2400 W. Hudson Road where employees there recognized France. They said he told them he was in law enforcement and showed them his badge, Foster said.
Detectives spotted France and pulled him over north of Hudson Road on Dixieland Road where he was arrested in connection with criminal impersonation, Foster said.
A Gentry police officer’s badge was found inside France’s truck and a siren and a clear light bar were mounted to the vehicle, Foster said.
“Basically it looks like ours when they’re not lit up,” he said.
France told police he bought the badge at a Farmington pawn shop and he is a volunteer firefighter, but detectives have been unable to verify that, Foster said. Police are investigating if France posed as an officer elsewhere.
According to jail records, France was arrested in 2006 for residential burglary, commercial burglary, breaking or entering, theft, criminal mischief, hot checks, contempt of court and a probation violation. He was arrested last year in connection with a parole violation and earlier this year in connection with shoplifting in June and driving while intoxicated in May.
France was being held Thursday in Benton County Jail with no bond set.