Call for backup unravels ruse as marshal

[psychopomp]

All's well in Cleveland, folks...at least while "Marshal's Service Canine Officer Sebastian" is on the case!

Malarious story from the Big Plum:


Call for backup unravels ruse as marshal

11/11/03

John Caniglia
Plain Dealer Reporter


The man wearing a badge and carrying a gun motioned for the driver to pull over. Then, Donald Sebastian did what every good cop does: He called for backup.

And that's what got him arrested.

Like his badge, Sebastian is a phony, authorities say. His desire to become a U.S. marshal was stopped by one thing - a criminal record with 29 arrests since 1975, including state and federal gun convictions.

"Who would call for backup?" said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott. "That's what is so strange."

Sebastian, 54, of Middleburg Heights, was arrested yesterday on charges of impersonating a federal agent. He was released on a personal bond. Defense attorney Debra Migdal declined comment.

-snip-

Sebastian told investigators, "It made me feel special to put on the marshal's uniform, even though I couldn't function as one." His home was littered with marshal service business cards, shirts, jackets, leather gloves and other gear that said he was a fed. He told authorities his ruse was his "way of giving back to the community."

"I would suggest a different type of volunteerism," said Strongsville Police Chief Charles Goss. "Most people impersonate an officer to carry out some other crime. But in this case, he called us."

-more
America is really a colorful place. I love it!