A Muncie man approached an undercover excise officer at Muncie Gras on Saturday and asked for identification, which resulted in his arrest.
Joseph Louis Garcia, 24, of Muncie, was arrested on a preliminary charge of impersonating a police officer, a Class D Felony, according to a press release by Cpl. Travis Thickstun, public information officer for Indiana State Excise Police.
The incident took place in front of The Columbia Theatre, formerly known as Center Stage’s Backstage Bar, on Walnut Street shortly after midnight when Garcia approached the plain clothes officer and demanded to see his identification.
After being asked by the actual excise officer why, Garcia continued to say he was with excise and needed to see his ID twice.
The officer showed Garcia his police badge and revealed he was an actual excise officer. Garcia was arrested and taken to the Delaware County Jail.
“Impersonating a police officer is an intolerable offense for which we will have zero tolerance,” Superintendent Matt Strittmatter said in the press release. “Such behavior is not only dangerous to the perpetrator, but can put other citizens at risk.”
Two other people were also arrested on a total of six charges, including false statement of age, minor in a tavern, illegal consumption of alcohol, two for possession of false ID and false government-issued ID at Muncie Gras.
