Nightclub security guard arrested for impersonating a federal agent
Atlanta GA October 6 2023 A man accused of impersonating a Department of Homeland Security officer while handcuffing a man, who was subsequently involved in a car crash with his wife, and is facing charges, Atlanta Police said Wednesday.
The incident was captured on body cam footage released on the APD’s Facebook page.
Officers responded around 3 a.m., Sept. 1, to Fair Drive and Metropolitan Parkway to an auto accident call.
Police said a responding officer noticed that the passenger, identified as 47-year-old Samuel Smith, had his wrists handcuffed inside one of the vehicles involved in the crash. Police accused him of being intoxicated at the time.
His wife, 42-year-old Patricia Smith, told police that an officer handcuffed her husband while they were at a Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard nightclub.
Police went to the club, where they found the man accused of saying he was an officer. He was identified by the police as Terrence Jacks, 49.
Jacks was accused of wearing a vest with a patch reading “police,” a Homeland Security special agent badge, a radio and a handgun. Police said he also had a car equipped with blue lights and police decals.
“Mr. Jacks claimed to be working as a security guard for the club and advised that he had placed Mr. Smith into handcuffs, but that Mr. Smith had run away before fleeing in an SUV,” police said in a news release.
Jacks was accused of showing officers Homeland Security credentials, and after investigating, police said they determined Jacks was not a special agent.
He was charged on suspicion of impersonating a public officer or employee and was booked into the Fulton County Jail. Records show he has since been released. Law enforcement equipment he was accused of having was seized after his arrest, police said.
Patricia Smith, in the crash involving she and her husband, was determined to be at fault and was charged on suspicion of DUI-less safe, hit and run, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license, police said.
Samuel Smith had an active warrant out of Fulton County and was placed into custody. Jail records show he was charged on suspicion of simple battery against a police officer/police dog/corrections or detention officer, police said. He was taken to the hospital for medical treatment, police said.
“The Atlanta Police Department would like to remind all citizens that police impersonators jeopardize the legitimacy of the law enforcement profession and that this arrest is significant in maintaining the community’s trust in our department. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” police said in the release.
