WEST BAY -- A Bay County man was arrested Thursday on charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer after an incident in the West Bay area, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
Arrested was Luke Eric Kirkland, 35, 15251 Pine Circle, Panama City Beach.
BCSO was contacted on Saturday by three people who said they were parked by the side of Pine Circle when they heard what sounded like a gunshot. A man driving a white truck drove up and parked his truck to block them and turned on a set of blue lights, like those used by law enforcement, for a few seconds. The man told them he was an undercover law enforcement officer and they needed to leave the area. After a brief conversation, he drove away and the witnesses saw him use the blue lights and a siren to stop a woman driving nearby.
BCSO later found Kirkland had blue lights and a siren in his white truck and a Thin Blue Line tag attached to the front of the vehicle. He also had handcuffs, a handgun and ammunition at his home, and a badge bearing the words “Fugitive Recovery Agent.”
After interviewing him, Kirkland was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, false imprisonment and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Anyone who believes they have encountered Kirkland representing himself as an officer is asked to call BCSO at 747-4700 and file a complaint.