Burlington man was impersonating officer, police say

Police said Arnold Wayne Southern even stopped and questioned strangers about why they were near Eastbrooke Apartments on Morningside Drive, where he claimed to be working.

Southern, 59, who also lives at the apartment complex, was arrested Sunday afternoon at his residence and charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Police said they began investigating Southern three months ago after receiving information about an armed man, wearing a security uniform and driving a white van, who was representing himself as a private security officer. The man had a gun and other items on a duty belt like those worn by police officers.

An investigation showed Southern has never been a licensed private security officer, nor was he under contract with the apartment management to perform security services.