BENTONVILLE — A Garfield man said he designed his vehicle to look like an undercover police unit, according to court documents filed Monday.
Eric Christopher Finnegan, 26, a Level 3 sex offender, was arrested Friday after Benton County Sheriff’s Office detectives made a traffic stop. The detectives noticed the inside of Finnegan’s white Ford Explorer was equipped with inboard lights identical to what law enforcement use for emergency lighting.
The Explorer’s front license plate was black and depicted two small “SWAT” team members with a thin blue line running through the middle. Black electrical tape covered the part of the back license plate that says “The Natural State,” according to court documents. The detectives also found a police officer’s badge from Hardin, Mo., and a notebook containing names and ages of children when they looked in Finnegan’s vehicle, according to the probable cause affidavit.
At A Glance
Sex Offender Levels
Level 1
Low Risk
Usually these are individuals with no prior history of sexual acting out, and no strong antisocial tendencies, sexual compulsions or psychological factors impairing judgment.
Level 2
Moderate Risk
Usually these are individuals with limited or circumscribed prior history of sexual acting out, possess some antisocial personality characteristics, predatory tendencies, or deviant sexual interest or behavior patterns that increase the general level of risk these offenders pose. They may have mild or well-controlled mental disorders, and/or developmental disabilities.
Level 3
High Risk
These individuals usually have histories of repeat sexual offending, and/or strong antisocial, violent or predatory personality characteristics. Sexual compulsions are likely to be present, but may be kept under control when relapse prevention plans are followed and treatment is continued. The offense patterns of these individuals reflect a relatively high probability of re-offense and/or a risk of substantial injury to victims should re-offense occur.
Level 4
Sexually Violent Predator
These are individuals with impaired judgment or control who have sexual or violent compulsions that they lack the ability to control. This may be due to pedophilia or other disorder of sexual attraction, mental illness, or personality disorder that distorts thinking, interferes with behavioral control, and predisposes the person to acts of predatory sexual violence.
Source: Arkansas Crime Information Center
Finnegan was arrested in connection with criminal impersonation, a Class D felony; along with misdemeanor charges for emergency lights and sirens prohibited persons, theft of property and excessive window tint.
Finnegan told detectives he purchased the vehicle at an auction in Oklahoma and it was used by a security company, according to the affidavit. Finnegan claimed it never crossed his mind to take the lights out of the vehicle and he wanted to leave them in the vehicle in case he sold it. Finnegan said he found the police badge in a ditch in Garfield.
Detective Andrew Woody spoke with Police Chief Ted Kuhlman in Hardin and learned Finnegan never worked for the department. Kuhlman told Woody a few years ago a police officer took numerous badges from the department, according to court documents.
Finnegan later claimed he found the police badge in a shed at his home. Finnegan said he placed the badge in the vehicle so he could turn it in to someone, according to the affidavit.
Finnegan later told detectives he purchased the vehicle lights off of the Internet website eBay and put them in his vehicle. He also paid to have the tint applied to the windows, according to the affidavit.
Finnegan claimed he only designed the Explorer to look like an undercover police vehicle because he thought it was cool and so did his two children, according to court documents.
According to court documents, Finnegan said he never made a traffic stop or tried to pick up children while he was in the vehicle. Finnegan told detectives he activated the lights on four different occasions while driving on a street or in a parking lot.
Rogers District Judge Paul Bridges set Finnegan’s bond at $50,000 on the new charges on Sunday.
Prosecutors, however, want to revoke Finnegan’s probation. According to court documents, Finnegan was arrested in May 2007 for sexual indecency with a child in connection with having sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl. Finnegan later pleaded guilty and was placed on probation. He also was required to register as a sex offender.
He was arrested again in June 2010 for failure to comply with reporting requirements. Finnegan admitted he changed his address without providing proper notice. He was placed on probation.
Circuit Judge Brad Karren presided over a bond hearing Monday afternoon in connection with the revocation proceedings.
Finnegan told Karren he was unemployed. Karren set bond at $200,000. Finnegan’s total bond is $250,000.
Finnegan’s probation officer and sheriff’s deputies conducted a search of Finnegan’s home and seized two computers and a cellphone that will be turned over to the Sheriff’s Office cyber crime unit for analysis. Detectives also seized Finnegan’s vehicle.
If anyone has information concerning the case, call Sgt. Andy Lee or Woody at 479-271-1008 or 479-273-5532.