Barber Smith (Cherokee Co. Sheriff's Office)GAFFNEY, SC (FOX Carolina) -
Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller said a driver who said he was stopped by a fake cop Friday morning lied about the incident.
The sheriff said the 77-year-old driver said he was stopped near the intersection of Piedmont Road and Battleground Road by a man driving a black car with emergency lights in the grill and visor area.
The driver told investigators that the police impersonator was wearing a suit and tie and appeared to be wearing a gun holster, although a gun was never pointed at him. He said the fake cop handcuffed one of his wrists to a steering wheel while he rummaged through the vehicle and then stole cash out of the glove box. He said the man then jumped back in his car and fled, leaving the driver still handcuffed.
Mueller said his deputies arrived to find the driver still handcuffed to the steering wheel.
On Friday afternoon, Mueller said the driver, identified as Barber Smith, of Gaffney, admitted that he lied about the fake cop and said he did it in an effort to get financial help.
"I'm just sorry it happened," Smith said as he walked out of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office in handcuffs.
"He said, 'Guys, I'm in financial trouble,'" Mueller said. "'I've been evicted from my home, and I made this all up, trying to draw attention to myself and my situation.'"
Smith was charged with filing a false police report.
During a bond hearing on Friday night, Smith said told the judge that he was "forced into it." The judge set his bond at $5,000.
Copyright 2012 FOX Carolina (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
All
content © Copyright 2000 - 2012, Fox Carolina,
Greenville, SC. (A Meredith Corporation Station)and
WorldNow. All rights reserved.