Alleged fake police officer discovered at doughnut shop, Dickinson police say

DICKINSON, TX (KTRK) -- A man allegedly posing a police officer was arrested at a doughnut shop today in Dickinson, according to police.

The Dickinson Police Department says one of their civilian employees saw Robert Lee Parnell, 26, of Santa Fe, wearing a police-style jacket with Dickinson PD patches at a doughnut shop in the 600 block of FM 517 around 8:45am.

The Dickinson PD employee, not recognizing Parnell, questioned him. The employee claims Parnell said he was given the jacket and then tried to leave the doughnut shop.

However, before he could, the Dickinson PD employee contacted dispatch and requested patrol officers. The employee told Parnell to take off the jacket. He did, according to police, and left the shop.

Police say they pulled Parnell over as he was leaving the doughnut shop.

Police say they determined Parnell is not a licensed peace officer, has never been licensed as a peace officer and has never been employed with the Dickinson Police Department.

Parnell was arrested and charged with false identification as peace officer. He was booked into the Dickinson City Jail, awaiting transfer to the Galveston County Jail. Bond was set at $1,000.

False identification as peace officer is a Class B Misdemeanor, punishable upon conviction by 180 days confinement in jail and/or up to a $2,000.00 fine.