The father of Ethan Couch, the 16-year-old who made headlines last year for being diagnosed with "affluenza" after killing four people in a drunk-driving accident, has been arrested for impersonating a Texas cop.
Frederick Anthony Couch was caught pretending to be a reserve officer for the Town of Lakeside responding to a domestic disturbance call in the suburb of North Richland Hills, police told WFAA-TV on Tuesday.
When police arrived at the scene on July 28, Couch told them he was with the Lakeside police and that his "Lakeside police stuff" was in his vehicle, according to an arrest warrant.
"Couch reached into his vehicle and took out his wallet displaying what appeared to be a police badge and identification card, suggesting he was a police officer," North Richland Hills investigator K. Bauman told the station. "Upon completion of the call, all subjects involved were allowed to leave the location."
Couch even mentioned the police chief's name. But one of the officers at the scene who was a part-time Lakeside officer in 2011 had never seen Couch before. The real officer contacted the Lakeside police chief, Lee Pitts, and inquired about the self-proclaimed officer's credentials.
Pitts said Couch was not and had never been a Lakeside reserve officer, WFAA reported.
In June 2013, Couch's son Ethan killed four people and injured two passengers riding in the pickup truck he was driving while under the influence of alcohol. A psychologist testified at his trial that the 16-year-old suffered from "affluenza," meaning his family's enormous wealth led him to believe there would not be any consequences for his actions.
Couch was sentenced to 10 years of probation.
His wannabe-cop father was arrested Tuesday and was released after posting $2,500 bond, the station reported.
