Michigan man charged with impersonation of a law enforcement officer
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI Oct 1 2021– A state conservation officer stopping to assist a man who crashed in Northfield Township ended up arresting the driver after he was found to be an armed felon impersonating a police officer.
George Michael Galbraith, 63, of Clarkston, was arraigned Friday, Sept. 24, on multiple charges after he was discovered unlawfully armed and impersonating an officer at the crash scene
Galbraith is charged with one felony count each of carrying a concealed weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a dangerous weapon and one misdemeanor count of falsely representing oneself as a peace officer.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Brandon Hartleben was on patrol Tuesday morning, Sept. 21, when he came across a crash in the area of Spencer and 8 Mile Roads in Northfield Township, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Hartleben saw a vehicle had left the roadway and was stuck about six feet down an embankment, officials said.
Hartleben stopped to assist the driver who was waving a badge in a wallet out of his window claiming he worked for the Waterford Township Police Department, officials said.
The badge appeared to be a fake and displayed “Crime Prevention Officer” stamped on it, officials said.
Hartleben contacted Waterford Township and confirmed the driver, Galbraith, was neither employed by the township nor involved in any current hiring processes with the township.
Galbraith then exited the vehicle wearing a coat with a zip-on attachment that read “POLICE,” officials said.
In searching Galbraith’s vehicle, Hartleben found a gun belt stuffed next to the driver’s seat with a holstered and loaded .40-caliber pistol, a cased and loaded shotgun in the backseat along with a case .380 handgun, officials said.
Galbraith was arrested without incident and later charged by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Luckily, this man was taken into custody without incident,” said First Lt. Todd Szyska, of the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division, District 9, and Hartleben’s supervisor. “Falsely representing yourself as a peace officer is an egregious breach of public trust, and we are glad this man is off the road.”
Galbraith was convicted in 2010 and 2015 on obstruction and weapons charges in Oakland County, court records show.
He was actively pursuing to the have the 2015 conviction set aside, according to court records filed in April.
Galbraith’s next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 7. He is currently free on $5,000 bond and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
