Driver’s Officer Impersonation Not Believable

publication date: May 26, 2008

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author/source: Roswell Beacon

On May 17, an Alpharetta police officer was driving down Mansell Rd. when he noticed a black Scion failing to maintain its lane of travel. The officer decided to initiate a traffic stop, and as he approached the suspect vehicle, the driver stuck his arm out the window and flashed a Ft. Lauderdale police badge numbered 229.

The officer then arrived at the car and asked to see the ID that went with the badge. The driver, identified as Lenis Escalante, was unable to provide the requested ID. He said his license had fallen under his seat.

The officer asked Escalante if he had been drinking and Escalante said that he had drank about “six beers.” The officer then asked Escalante if he would be willing to take a few sobriety tests. Escalante explained that that would be difficult because he left policing due to a gunshot.

Escalante was arrested for DUI. Once arrested, the officer took Escalante to the police station where APD was able to get in touch with Ft. Lauderdale police. The APD spoke with the officer in Ft. Lauderdale who had badge number 229, and it wasn’t anyone named Escalante. The Ft. Lauderdale officer said that he had had badge 229 for the last 17 years. The officer went on to explain that Escalante had worked for the FLPD, but he was fired after three months. Escalante was also charged with impersonating a police officer.

A fight with no winner
On May 12, Roswell police officers were called to an address on Park Ridge Lane in reference to a reported simple battery. Upon arrival, the officers were approached by two individuals, Esteban Toscano-Radilla and his girlfriend Aubrey McCuiston.

According to Toscano, McCuiston stole $60 from his wallet. He said that when he tried to confront her about the money an argument erupted. Toscano alleged that during the argument McCuiston broke his bedroom door by knocking it off the hinges. Toscano then went on to say that he broke McCuiston’s cell phone in retaliation for the bedroom door. Toscano explained further that after he broke McCuiston’s cell phone, McCuiston physically attacked him.

McCuiston’s version of events was a little different. She claimed that the bedroom door was broken during a physical altercation that involved both of them, not just her. She also stated that she tried to pay Toscano $20 of the $60 that she took, but he would not accept it unless it was the full $60. McCuiston then went on to say that Toscano broke her cell phone because she couldn’t pay him the full $60.

A witness in the apartment at the time had a story that really didn’t help the officers clear things up at all. The witness, who was in his room, stated that he heard McCuiston yell “give me back my phone.” He said that that was followed by Toscano yelling “give me back my $60.” The witness also stated that he heard Toscano yell “STOP, get back, I’m not gonna fight you.”

Because of the observable physical harm on Toscano, the officers arrested McCuiston for simple battery and criminal trespass, while they arrested Toscano for criminal trespass.

DUI ARRESTS

• Kalkidan Sileshi, 26, of Atlanta, was arrested May 14 on Mansell Rd. for DUI.
• Stanley Fouts, 46, of Alpharetta, was arrested May 18 on Haynes Bridge Rd. for DUI.
• Adan Hernandez, 30, of Alpharetta, was arrested May 12 on Nesbit Ferry Rd. for failure to maintain lane and DUI.
• Rita Barahona, 54, of Roswell, was arrested May 12 on Holcomb Bridge Rd. for failure to maintain lane, driving on the wrong side of the road and DUI.
• Michael Coupe, 42, of Roswell, was arrested May 14 on Riverside Dr. for speeding and DUI.
• Jill Levine, 30, of Roswell, was arrested May 15 on Scott Rd. for speeding and DUI.
• Robbie Furter, 23, of Roswell, was arrested May 15 on Old Alabama Rd. for failure to maintain lane and DUI.
• Dennis O’Connor, 67, of Roswell, was arrested May 16 on South Atlanta St. for failure to maintain lane and DUI.
• James Doyle, 42, of St. George Island, Fla., was arrested May 17 on Hwy. 9 for failure to maintain lane and DUI.
• Mary Kreps, 29, of Alpharetta, was arrested May 17 on Greenhouse Way, for DUI.
• Joseph Karpus, 25, of Atlanta, was arrested May 17 on Norcross St. for failure to maintain lane and DUI.
• Miguel Angel Roman-Mendez, 28, of Roswell, was arrested May 17 in the Worthington Hills neighborhood for failure to maintain lane, being an unlicensed driver and DUI.
• Mario Rivera-Alvarez, 23, of Roswell, was arrested May 18 on Hwy. 9 for failure to maintain lane and DUI.
• Martha Wannamaker, 38, of Roswell was arrested May 18 on Crabapple Rd. for failure to maintain lane and DUI.
• William Ross, 39, of Woodstock, was arrested May 13 on Woodstock Rd. for failure to maintain lane, having an open container of alcohol and DUI.

DRUG ARRESTS

• Richard Hansen, 31, of Roswell, was arrested May 15, on Martin Rd. for possession of marijuana.
• Daniel Collett, 23, of Roswell was arrested May 16 on Coleman Rd. for failure to maintain lane, DUI and possession of marijuana.