(WWJ) A routine stop in Washtenaw County to assist a driver who had gone off the road took an unexpected turn—and the man accused has now been charged.
George Galbraith, 63, of Clarkston was arraigned Friday on multiple charges including: carrying a concealed weapon, firearm possession by felon, ammunition possession by felon, possession of dangerous weapons, and falsely representing oneself as a peace officer.
On September 21, Chief Officer Hartleben was patrolling near Spencer and 8 Mile Roads in Northfield Township around 6 a.m. when he saw a vehicle off the roadway, about six feet down the embankment.
He stopped to help out, and noticed the right rear tire of the car was flat and there was some damage to the vehicle.
It was apparently occupied by a man holding a badge wallet out of his window and who said he worked for the Waterford Police Department.
The officer convinced the suspect to give him his wallet. The badge appeared to be fake--stamped with “Crime Prevention Officer.” He confirmed with Waterford Township that the man was neither employed there or involved in a current hiring process.
After he exited the vehicle, the officer found a gun/Sam Browne style belt stuffed next to the driver’s seat. It contained a single handcuff case and a gun holster with a loaded Smith and Wesson M&P .40-caliber pistol. He wore a coat with a zip-on attachment reading “POLICE.”
He also had a cased shotgun loaded in the tube, as well as a cased Smith and Weston .380 handgun.
“Luckily, this man was taken into custody without incident,” said F/Lt. Todd Szyska, of the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division, District 9, and Hartleben’s supervisor, in the press release. “Falsely representing yourself as a peace officer is an egregious breach of public trust, and we are glad this man is off the road.”
For each of the four felonies, Galbraith faces up to five years in prison and a fine of not more than $2,500, plus court costs. The misdemeanor charge of impersonating a peace officer is punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. His next court date has not yet been determined.
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