Police impersonator gets 10 days in jail - January 23, 2004

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2004-02-12

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64 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, February 11, 2004   Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery   SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries   Life   Opinion - Politics   AP News   Weather   Classified   Archives   Site Map   EXTRA   Newspaper in Education   Personals   Movie Times   TV Times   E The People   CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad  eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities   Entertainment   Publications   Recreation   Calendar   CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit   Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 23, 2004 Police impersonator gets 10 days in jail Impersonating a city police officer landed a Medford man in jail. David Charles Stepp, 20, of the 300 block of North Grape Street will spend 10 days in jail and serve probation after pleading guilty Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court to a charge of criminal impersonation of a police officer. Police arrested him in June after he posed as an officer stopping a Medford woman for speeding. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors handled the crime — a felony — as a misdemeanor. Also charged was Stepp’s brother, 21-year- old Richard Wayne Stepp, of the 400 block of Hamilton Street, Medford. His court case is still pending. Using red and blue flashing lights mounted on the rear-view mirror of a white Honda Civic, the two brothers pulled over a Medford woman driving with her sister and a friend on Crater Lake Avenue near Stevens Street. David Stepp walked up to the woman’s car, asked why she was speeding and demanded to see her driver’s license, which she handed over, said Beth Heckert, chief deputy district attorney for Jackson County. David Stepp was dressed in a dark colored T-shirt with the logo "Medford PD," Heckert added. The Honda’s driver, Richard Stepp, waited in the car. Doubting David Stepp was really a police officer, the woman asked to see identification. He flashed some type of badge, gave a false name and said he was new at the police department, Heckert said. Unconvinced, the woman asked for her license back and drove off, she added. After the brothers followed her to Eastwood Apartments, the woman called police and pointed out the two men when real officers arrived. They arrested Richard Stepp at the apartment complex. David Stepp, who ran off, was arrested about an hour later while working at Castle Superstore. The brothers gave no explanation for their behavior, Heckert said. Mail Tribune Home Local News  | Sports  | Business  | Obituaries  | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives  |  Site Map   E Southern Oregon  | Classified   Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE!   ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times