Ex-gas manager charged for posing as officer

FLORENCE - A former manager of the Florence Gas Department has been arrested and charged with impersonating a peace officer, authorities said.

Florence police officials said 62-year-old Roger Lovelace, 236 Indian Springs Road, Florence, was arrested Sunday just after 8 p.m. The charge is a Class C felony, which carries the punishment of one to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Lovelace, who worked 34 years with the city of Florence and was reassigned from his position as gas manager in August 2005 until he retired in April 2006, is accused of following a car from Indian Springs, off Florence Boulevard, to Chisholm Hills Church of Christ on Chisholm Road. The car was driven by an off-duty Florence police detective.

"(Lovelace) got out of his car, and identified himself and told the detective that he was speeding and needed to slow down," said Florence detective Kevin Jackson. "Once the officer told (Lovelace) he was in fact a police officer, Lovelace got in his car and took off. He was stopped a short time later by patrol officers and arrested."

Florence attorney Tim Case, who is representing Lovelace, said his office was contacted Sunday night and arrangements were made for Lovelace to post bail totaling $1,000.

"We're looking into the allegations to determine what defense is available for him," Case said.

Investigators said Lovelace got behind off-duty detective David Bradley near Indian Springs.

Bradley said the car following him was "riding his bumper" and making "every turn and move" that he made.

"I walked toward his car and he identified himself as a police officer and told me he was trying to stop me because I was speeding," Bradley said. "When he realized I was an officer, he took off in his car."

Jackson said Bradley followed Lovelace until patrol units got there and stopped him on Kendall Drive in Florence Industrial Park.

Jackson said that inside the car, officers found a Brinks Security cap, which had a badge on it, and a holster. He said two pistols were found inside the trunk of the car.

Florence detective Capt. Ron Tyler said during the past two months the department had received other reports of someone riding around trying to stop motorists. Tyler said that according to the reports, the person involved matched Lovelace's description and the car described in the reports was similar to the gold-tan Mercury Montego that Lovelace was driving at the time of his arrest.

Jackson said if anyone knows anything about any other incidents similar to this or has had it happen to them, they are asked to contact the police department at 768-2728 or Shoals Area CrimeStoppers at 386-8685.

As gas department manager, Lovelace came under fire in 2003 after he was accused of giving apparent preferential treatment to a local construction company owned by his brother-in-law so it could get gas department construction project contracts. He was also accused of overbilling the city thousands of dollars for the work.

Lovelace never admitted to any wrongdoing. He was reassigned as gas department manager after the release of findings from a forensic audit of his department.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.