Martin County: A Knox County man is in jail after falsely identifying himself as a reserve deputy sheriff to a state trooper during a traffic stop.
On August 7, Senior Trooper Jarrod Lents conducted a traffic stop on Robert Neukam, 48, Freelandville, on US 231 in Martin County for failing to use his turn signal during a lane change. During the traffic stop, Neukam presented Trooper Lents with an identification card indicating he was a reserve deputy sheriff in Knox County. Lents asked Neukam if he was a police officer, to which Neukam replied that he was a reserve deputy. Neukam additionally informed Lents that he had left his badge at home. Trooper Lents contacted the Knox County Sheriff’s Department and learned that Neukam had not been a reserve deputy for two years, and that his badge had been taken by the Sheriff.
After consulting with the Martin County Prosecutor’s Office, an affidavit for probable cause was filed and an arrest warrant was issued through the Martin County Court. Trooper Lents and Master Trooper Gary Wier arrested Neukam today, without incident, and lodged him in the Martin County Jail for the Level 6 Felony charge.
Arrested and Charge:
Robert Neukam, 48
304 West State Road 58, Freelandville, IN
- Impersonation of a Public Servant (Police Officer), Level 6 Felony
-30-
HENSLEY
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
