Suspect arrested after impersonating officer

Local News

March 10, 2009

By Matthew Hill

Fayette County sheriff’s deputies made quick work of a case in which a man purportedly impersonated a police officer in the Powellton area last Friday night and robbed a pair of homeowners.

Fayette County Sheriff Steve Kessler issued a press release Monday seeking information on the whereabouts of the suspect so that arrest warrants could be served.

Later that same day, Michael L. Crist, 34, was arrested without incident at his residence in Gauley Bridge based on an anonymous tip, Kessler said Tuesday.

The turnaround time in the case — from not even knowing the identity of the suspect to having him in custody — was a mere three days, including a weekend.

Crist was arraigned Monday night by Fayette County Magistrate Charles L. Garvin III and was remanded to Southern Regional Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond, explained Kessler. Crist remained at SRJ Tuesday, according to its Web site.

Crist is accused of gaining entry to a home in the Powellton area and robbing its owners by impersonating a police officer.

He has been charged with one count each of impersonating a police officer, grand larceny and second-degree robbery.

Crist allegedly entered the home last Friday by presenting himself as an undercover police officer and advising the homeowners that he was there to verify the numbers on their prescription bottles, explained Kessler.

Once the suspect left, the homeowners discovered that he had taken a large quantity of their prescription pain medicine. They gave a description of the accused and stated that he had a badge and sported a pistol in a holster on his right hip.

Arrest warrants for Crist were obtained by Deputy Kevin Willis.

— E-mail: mhill@register-herald.com