A man accused of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer at multiple retail stores in the Columbia and Lexington areas has been arrested.
43-year-old Buddy Todd Mount (DOB: 3-14-1974) is charged by the Columbia Police Department with Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer and Shoplifting.
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook says, “The lead Columbia Police investigator interviewed Mr. Mount after today’s arrest. Mount confessed to the Columbia incidents and provided valuable information regarding additional crimes in the surrounding areas.”
Mount was located at approximately 3:00 p.m. today at 92 Kilbrannon Drive in Lexington County by the Columbia Police Department (CPD) Warrant Team and the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Task Force.
“The collaborative efforts of all law enforcement agencies and the public have ensured a quick and safe resolution to this impersonator,” stated US Marshal Kelvin Washington, District of South Carolina.
Lexington Police Chief Terrance Green says, “I would like to express my appreciation for the cooperation between the Columbia Police Department, United States Marshals Service and Lexington Police Department in quickly resolving this case. Without the team work and sharing of information between agencies, crimes such as these often go unsolved.”
On June 17, 2017, Mount is accused of stealing several items, including a BB gun, holster and a knife from Academy Sports located at 237 Park Terrace Circle (City of Columbia).
On the same day, about thirty minutes later at GameStop, located at 1725 Broad River Road (City of Columbia), Mount allegedly entered the store wearing a utility belt with a holstered canister of mace and handgun on his waist.
Mount is also accused of presenting a fake police badge to an employee while identifying himself as a federal law enforcement officer. After the employee asked him to leave, Mount stated that he would return with an arrest warrant. It has not been reported that Mount returned to the store.
Lexington Police say Mount committed a similar act on Monday, June 18, 2017 at the Gamestop located at 5570 Sunset Boulevard.
Mount is being transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. (Attached, ASGDC Booking Photograph: Dated 7/4/2016)
All persons arrested/charged are presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.
