Austin, TX – Recent developments shed light on the arrest of 35-year-old Sean Macdonald of Pflugerville, who is facing charges of falsely identifying himself as an Austin Police Department (APD) officer. Macdonald's deceptive actions, spanning since at least July 2020, were exposed through an affidavit.
The affidavit details that APD became aware of Macdonald's impersonation on January 15 when photos surfaced on Instagram and Facebook, showcasing him in what appeared to be a legitimate APD patrol officer uniform. Macdonald was not recognized as a current or former APD officer. The posts featured images of Macdonald wearing a uniform with identical shoulder patches issued to APD officers, donning a shoulder mic typical of patrol officers, and, in one instance, displaying a fully equipped gun belt.
One particularly concerning post depicted what seemed to be the interior of a patrol car with a caption reading, "View for the next 10 hours." Another post, dated the same day Senior Officer Jorge Pastore tragically lost his life, showed an APD badge covered with a mourning band and a blue ribbon, accompanied by the caption, "Rest easy brother, we got it from here."
Impersonating an Officer
(Credit: Screen Grab from Youtube video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHe…)
Fake or Stolen Badge
(Screen Grab from Youtube Video)
Dennis Farris, president of the Austin Police Retired Officer Association, commented on the situation, noting the bizarre nature of Macdonald's actions. Farris highlighted that Macdonald wasn't engaging in law enforcement activities but rather using the impersonation to impress and show off.
The affidavit reveals that Macdonald, in interactions on dating apps, falsely claimed to be a police officer. Additionally, he recounted a fabricated crash incident from December 2023, using photos from a legitimate officer's 2019 crash. Macdonald further falsely asserted involvement in the search for a shooter responsible for a December 2023 spree, claiming past employment with the Dallas Police Department.
Despite these claims, the investigation confirmed that Macdonald has never been a licensed peace officer in Texas, nor has he been an APD cadet trainee eligible for a badge or employee number.
During a news conference, APD Detective Brandon Solis outlined that Violent Crimes Task Force members successfully tracked down Macdonald based on leads. A traffic stop on Monday resulted in Macdonald's arrest without incident.
APD is urging anyone who has had contact with Macdonald while he presented himself as an officer to come forward with information. Detective Solis emphasized the importance of reporting any potentially criminal acts associated with Macdonald's impersonation.
Macdonald is currently in custody, held under a $5,000 bond. Individuals with information can submit tips anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers program at austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: