PORTER — A 24-year-old New Caney man is charged with two felonies after pretending to be a police officer and inventing a brother when confronted by real law enforcement. Pct. 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden said there were lessons to be learned from the absurd tale.
Just after midnight on September 27, David Less McIntyre was driving his red 2003 Ford F150 extended cab pickup down the main street of a trailer park in the 22500 block of Ford Road in Porter. An adult male who was walking on the street said he heard the truck approaching at a high rate of speed and yelled at the driver (McIntyre) to slow down.
According to the victim, at that point McIntyre stopped, jumped out of the truck and stated he was a Montgomery County narcotics officer. According to the victim and witnesses, McIntyre then grabbed the victim by the wrist and used a police maneuver to put the victim’s arm behind his back and force him to the front of the truck. McIntyre then told the victim to place his hands on the hood and began to frisk him, even kicking the victim’s feet apart to frisk the man’s lower body. Afterward, McIntyre turned the victim around and told him he should be more respectful of officers and not talk back. McIntyre then jumped back into his pickup, spun his tires and drove away, fleeing the scene.
One suspicious witness called police and jotted down the truck’s license plate. Dispatchers broadcast an “attempt to locate,” providing all law enforcement agencies with the plate number and description of the truck.
A Pct. 4 Deputy responded to the scene and was taking the victim’s statement when dispatchers contacted him regarding a telephone call from McIntyre. The deputy then spoke with McIntyre by phone, and McIntyre asked the deputy if an all-points bulletin had been dispatched on his truck. It was later learned McIntyre had a police scanner.
The deputy asked McIntyre for his license plate number and to describe the vehicle, and both matched witnesses’ statements. McIntyre then volunteered information, claiming his brother had been driving the truck at the time of the incident, but he was unable to give his “brother’s” full name, saying it had changed and he did not know the new name. McIntyre was also unable to provide an address or date of birth for his “brother.”
Witnesses later positively identified McIntyre as the fake cop. Because of his games in trying to manipulate and throw investigators off his scent, McIntyre added a second felony charge to his troubles.
McIntyre is charged with third-degree felony Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair and Impersonating a Public Servant, which is also a third-degree felony.
Constable Hayden said it is important to note that there are also real officers working in plain clothes, and they understand citizens’ concerns.
“People need to know plain clothes officers are on the streets, but it’s all right to be cautious and make sure it’s an officer,” Constable Hayden said. “A real officer understands that and won’t be offended if he’s asked to show not just his badge, but also his ID.”
Constable Hayden commends the witness who took down the fake cop’s license plate and he also has a message for people like Mr. McIntyre.
“Impersonating an officer is a very serious crime, and it will not be tolerated in East County,” he said, “This incident shows, it will not be tolerated by law enforcement, nor by the citizens.”
Anyone who has had a similar encounter should report it to law enforcement immediately.
