A Florida man was arrested Monday for pretending to be a law enforcement officer, and beating up a woman. The alleged victim told police in Boynton Beach she was driving when a pedestrian violently confronted her, according to the arrest report obtained by LawNewz.com.
This suspect, identified by authorities as Marc Vanburen, stepped in front of her vehicle, described himself as a “Sheriff,” then told her not to speed, the woman said. She yelled at him to get out of the way so she could drive off, but he didn’t comply, she said. The man approached the driver’s side of the car after she tried to record the incident on her cell phone, and he tried to take it, she said. This alleged victim claimed that sparked a fight: She tried to defend herself, and he struck her in the head multiple times while yelling “you are hitting a cop.” He kicked and dented her driver’s side door as she tried to drive way, she said.
When the arriving officer confronted Vanburen about this, the suspect said the alleged victim tried to run him over while he was walking a dog. He claimed the woman struck him in the face when he walked up to the driver’s side window to speak to her. Vanburen only described himself as a “Sheriff” so that she would no longer speed, he reportedly told police.
He is reportedly not a law enforcement officer of any kind. Vanburen is also accused of pulling away while being walked to the rear of a police patrol car, causing the handcuffs to cut an officer’s thumb.
He faces one count of burglary with battery, criminal mischief, impersonating a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence. LawNewz.com could not reach him for comment. He remains at Palm Beach County’s Main Detention Center as of Tuesday evening on $35,000 bond, and is scheduled for a Sept. 13 court date.
[Screengrab and video via the alleged victim and WPTV]