Published: August 20, 2008 02:37 pm         

Fake officer charged with retaliation

Truck breakdown leads to man’s arrest

Police arrested a man claiming to be a police officer and another man whose vehicle broke down over the weekend.

A Cleburne man racked up charges of retaliation and impersonating a public servant Sunday after being arrested on earlier charges.

Police responded to the 800 block of Chase Street at 10:48 a.m. in reference to a disturbance. Officers arrived to find Johnny Brian Knox, 40, urinating on the side of the road, according to reports. Knox was taken into custody on charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

While en route to the Johnson County Corrections Center, Knox allegedly threatened the transporting officer and his family. Knox also claimed to be a police officer, according to reports.



Troublesome truck

A tractor-trailer provided problems galore Saturday for its driver and a Cleburne police officer. A policeman pulled Dwight David Gossett, 34, of Plano over for lighting violations on his vehicle and for emitting an inordinate amount of smoke. The officer thought the semi, traveling in the 200 block of East Katherine P. Raines Drive at 10:49 p.m., could be on fire.

The officer alerted Cleburne firefighters, who determined that a combination of the truck’s engine about to blow and radiator water spraying onto the overheated engine caused the smoke. Firefighters cut the vehicle’s battery cables to prevent a fire.

This was the second vehicle to break down on him that day, Gossett told police. The first dropped its drivetrain.

Gossett’s troubles continued when he was arrested after a computer check revealed he had three warrants out of Frisco.

The semi’s troubles continued as well. While waiting for a wrecker, the officer noticed the truck begin to roll forward toward the highway’s embankment. The officer jumped in the truck and pulled the emergency brake before it could roll down the hill, but the truck was in park the whole time.

     

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.