A 22-year-old man from Ottumwa is facing charges after police say he pretended to be an officer outside the Mahaska County Law Center.
On September 5, Austin Lemke walked into the lobby of the Oskaloosa Police Department requesting to speak with an officer about a bicycle. After leaving the lobby, Lemke reportedly went to the south door of the Law Center and identified himself as an officer.
According to court documents, Lemke used the intercom button to speak with a jailer. When asked for his name, Lemke spoke too quietly for the jailer to hear. The jailer then asked for a badge number, and Lemke responded with a string of numbers. He was denied access to the building.
Lemke then told the jailer he was there to speak with an officer. A warrant was later issued for his arrest.
He was taken into custody and booked into the Mahaska County Jail. Lemke is charged with Impersonating a Public Official, an aggravated misdemeanor. His bond was set at $2,000 cash or surety.
