Liberty County sheriff's deputy imposter barges into home

LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas – The Liberty County Sheriff's Office is warning people about a burglar who dresses as a deputy.

John Sellers was sitting on his couch inside of home Tuesday night in the Snake River subdivision when he says a man wearing a Liberty County sheriff's deputy uniform and pretending to be a peace officer, walked into his home and started yelling at him.

"Very dangerous. You don't know if they are real or not. I thought he was a police officer," Sellers said.

Although the incident happened April Fool's night, this was no joke to Sellers, who says he was scared when the fake deputy walked through his open door and started yelling at him aggressively.

"He just walked in the door, stood right there and started running off about 'If you see a crime, you are just as guilty as the one who did it,'" said Sellers.

He was shocked and confused by the statement, not having any idea to what the man in uniform was referring.

"It is a short-sleeved, tan-colored Liberty County Sheriff's Department uniform, and it did have the proper badges on the shoulder, the only thing it lacked was a badge on the left hand side," said Cpt. Ken Defoor, with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.

He might have been missing a badge, but Sellers says the suspect was wearing an official style belt that held a gun and handcuffs. He even had a name plate that read J.J. Edwards. But Defoor says there is no one by the name of J.J. Edwards in the sheriff's office.

"When a person sees that uniform, they will comply with the person's request whatever it might be, that is an extreme danger for our citizens," said Defoor.

About a year ago, the sheriff's office changed to a solid blue street uniform, and now only wear the khaki ones for court. Sheriff's office officials still don't know how this person could have gotten ahold of an old uniform since they were burned when they changed to blue.

The homeowner told authorities the man left in a newer model black Tahoe.

The suspect is in his late 20s or early 30s, and stands about 5 feet 7 inches with an average build. If you have any information on who that person might be, you are asked to call the Liberty County Sheriff's Office at 936-336-4500.