Man with fake ‘sheriff’ car also had handcuffs and leg shackles, NC sheriff says
A 73-year-old “convicted felon” has been arrested again, after tips revealed he had a car doctored to look like a law enforcement vehicle, according to investigators in western North Carolina.
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The discovery was made May 12 at the home of Wayne Leslie Briggs in Murphy, where deputies also found handcuffs and leg shackles, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
“The investigation began after the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received citizen complaints regarding social media posts depicting (the suspect) operating a black 2023 Chrysler 300 Touring that allegedly displayed several items commonly associated with law enforcement,” the sheriff’s office reported.
“According to investigators, the vehicle displayed a K9 decal on the trunk, seat covers bearing the word ‘Sheriff’ that were visible from outside the vehicle, and a badge positioned on the dashboard.”
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One tip included a license plate number for the vehicle, which led deputies to the suspect’s home, officials said
The Chrysler was discovered on the property, along with “several firearms, a set of handcuffs, a set of leg shackles and a police badge,” officials said.
Briggs was charged with operating a vehicle resembling law enforcement vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, officials said. His prior conviction involved a sex offense with a minor, and Briggs was sentenced to two years in prison in 1989, according to court documents.
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Murphy is about a 225-mile drive west from uptown Charlotte.
