A PORT CHARLOTTE MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY IMPERSONATING A COP TO HIT ON A NEIGHBOR. DEPUTIES SAY A PORT CHARLOTTE WOMAN TOLD THEM SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK LAST THURSDAY MORNING WHEN A CAR BEHIND HER STARTED HONKING. THE MAN HAD HIS ARM OUT THE WINDOW HOLDING A WALLET THAT DISPLAYED WHAT THEY CALLED A POLICE TYPE BADGE. HE GESTURED FOR THE WOMAN TO PULL OVER, AND SHE DID AT LOVELAND AND PEACHLAND BOULEVARDS. THE WOMAN TOLD DETECTIVES SHE RECOGNIZED THE MAN AS 58 YEAR OLD JOHN McDONALD, A NEIGHBOR WHO ALSO LIVES ON THE STREET SHE LIVES ON. McDONALD APPROACHED STILL HOLDING THE WALLET AND BADGE, WHICH THE WOMAN RECOGNIZED AS A RETIRED OFFICER’S BADGE, BUT SHE COULDN’T SEE THE JURISDICTION. SHE TOLD DETECTIVES McDONALD CHANGED HIS CONVERSATION TO MORE SEXUAL IN NATURE, AND THE WOMAN TOLD HIM SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND AND NEEDED TO GET TO WORK, DRIVING AWAY IN THE PROCESS. THE WOMAN SAID SHE WAS GOING TO IGNORE THE INCIDENT, BUT INSTEAD CALLED DEPUTIES ON FRIDAY TO PREVENT HIM FROM DOING THE SAME THING TO ANOTHER WOMAN. McDONALD WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH IMPERSONATING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. HE WAS RELEASED LATER FRIDAY AFTER POSTING A $2500 BOND.
