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Game of pretend lands one man behind bars
Published Thursday, May 8, 2008
VIDALIA — A Vidalia man was arrested Wednesday on charges he pretended to be a police officer during the course of a murder investigation.
Greatery Dotson, 30, 606 N. Spruce St., was arrested on charges of fraudulent portrayal of a law enforcement officer.
On the night of April 4, following the fatal stabbing of Frank E. Holmes on John Dale Drive in Vidalia, Dotson allegedly called the Natchez Police with a BOLO — or “be on the look out” — for the suspect in the stabbing, Vidalia Police Chief Billy Hammers said.
“He didn’t have the authority to do that,” Hammers said.
Dotson was reportedly identified by the Natchez Police officer, who recognized his voice, Hammers said.
Comments
Posted by acedog (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
was he doing anything wrong or just been a good citizen?when he made the phone call did he identify himself as a officer? if not this man did nothing wrong. its the police dept. responsibility to identify whom there talking to and if the information is good.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kinda sounds like this guy stole the "glory" from the cops and now they are embarrassed and ticked off.
I'm just sayin
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, ace and say. Yall said it all. Since when did giving the cops a tip become a crime? When in Natchez, don't call in a tip or you'll be calling a bondsman.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It was a murder investigation... He ACTED like he was a police officer. I'm sure that had he said it was a tip for the police he wouldn't be in trouble. But he Called in a BOLO while alluding that he was a police officer. That is the illegal part and why he is in trouble. I do believe the Democrat could've given us a little more on this story. (seems to be that way a lot here lately)
Posted by LocustStorm (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
okayyy.... that story was so incomplete that it wasn't even necessary.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree....I am totally confused. Just because he knew the lingo of the police and called in and reported something they threw him in jail?
whatsup with that?
Posted by emp (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 6:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As usual, Vershal Hogan has printed only PART of the story. I think he does it to get things started. THANK YOU, ONCE AGAIN, MR. HOGAN!!!!! GET IT RIGHT OR LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!!!!!!!
From my understanding, only from things I've heard, Mr. Dotson called Natchez Police Department and identified himself as an officer at Vidalia Police Department. That was the illegal part of the story. Impersonation of an officer is a crime. It wouldn't be as much of a big deal except it can become a trend.
This is only my opinion, of course, and my post is based on hearsay. I have the luxury telling only the part I've heard. Mr. Hogan seems to think he has that same option. He should be reminded by his employer that he is a reporter.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well thanks for that emp...that would make MUCH more sense. Why couldn't the Democrat simply add alittle more story rather than adding more confusion?
Posted by emp (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know. Seems to be a pattern there.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes. I guess it is like the old story about the junior reporter. His editor told him his stories were too long and taking too much ink and paper. The next day his story read" John Simons looked up the elevator shaft to see if the elevator was coming. It was. Age 31. "
I guess vershal may be trying to save ink and paper.
Posted by free_radical (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 11:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I love what LocustStorm said above. DEAD-ON! funny too! :}
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on May 10, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The real story? Greatory Dotson is an idiot with a long history of arrests for charges like drugs, phone harrasment, disturbing the peace and ANOTHER arrest for impersonating of a police officer in 2007! What happened was he called Natchez and ID'd himself as being with VPD twice during the call! This idiot also gave the wrong name on the BOLO, which could have caused the wrong person to have been picked up, thankfully the NPD was on the ball.
As to the question of why so long till he was arrested? He has been dodging the warrant for weeks. He knew he was going to be arrested.
They should charge him with interfering with a murder investigation too.
How much more in the way of explaining do you need?
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