A Fort Stewart soldier recently was arrested for impersonating a police officer after he allegedly told authorities he was an MP following an accident involving his automobile.
Long County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Shane Middleton said he responded to a report of a vehicle accident around 1:30 a.m. Jan. 5 on Lee Place Road. A witness reportedly told Middleton he heard a loud crash near his home. The witness went outside to see what had happen and found an overturned 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The witness also told Middleton he saw a man dressed in a military uniform leave the scene of the accident. The witness told Middleton that as the soldier left he yelled, "I’m OK. Don’t call the police."
The deputy said that as he was investigating the scene, approximately 18 minutes later, Staff Sgt. Mark Norfleet, who appeared to be intoxicated, arrived at the accident. Middleton said Norfleet told him he owned the Trailblazer, but that another soldier in his company had been driving the vehicle.
Norfleet said he did not know the other soldier’s real name, but said his nickname was "Boobee" and his rank was specialist. Norfleet reportedly told the deputy that the other soldier had been drinking, but Norfleet thought he was OK to drive. The deputy said Norfleet claimed to be an MP at Fort Stewart and said he should have known not to let the other man drive his vehicle. Norfleet told Middleton the other soldier had been wearing a white shirt and black jeans, but the deputy pointed out that the description did not match the one given by the witness.
Further investigation revealed that Norfleet is not an MP. He was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer, public officer or employee.
Middleton said Norfleet’s vehicle was impounded and would be held until the alleged other driver could be located. The incident is still under investigation and charges of hindering a police officer while doing their job and allowing a driver to Violate a state law were pending against Norfleet.
In other LCSO news:
• Last week, Investigator Tom Sollosi, working with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Long County residents Bryan Edward Noakes, 32, and Jammie Allen Gibson, 28, for allegedly stealing a Bushmaster XM-15 E2S rifle from a Walthorville residence on Jan. 10. Sollosi said that the two men were turned over to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office because the alleged crime took place in Liberty County. Gibson and Noakes face charges of burglary, the investigator said.