Alleged police impersonator, accomplice arrested

Gibson
Gibson

A Jacksonville man sought by Hot Springs police for allegedly impersonating a law enforcement officer to shoplift items last month was identified and charged Monday and his girlfriend and alleged accomplice was arrested Tuesday.

Tommy Gene Gibson, 35, was already in custody in the Garland County Detention Center for a parole violation when police identified him and served him with warrants Monday for felony counts of first-degree criminal impersonation and theft of property over $1,000, each punishable by up to six years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of theft of property under $1,000, punishable by up to one year in jail.

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Cischke

His alleged accomplice, Ali Marie Cischke, 34, who lists a Thistledown Trail address, turned herself in Tuesday shortly after police posted on Facebook she was being sought on a misdemeanor count of hindering apprehension or prosecution, punishable by up to one year in jail.

Gibson remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of bonds totaling $16,000 and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court. Cischke was released on $10,000 bond and is set to appear May 7 in district court.

Police had posted surveillance photos of the alleged impersonator on social media last week trying to identify the suspect. In Tuesday's post, police stated Cischke was allowing Gibson to use her vehicle to allegedly commit these crimes. When questioned, Cischke denied being involved or knowing who used her vehicle.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on March 21, around 1 p.m., an unknown man entered the Yellow Jacket Military Surplus Store, 410 Airport Road, and stole several items. The store manager stated he took two T-shirts, one with "POLICE" on the front and one with "SHERIFF" on the front.

The man also stole a silver security badge, black pants, a black hat, a Garland County Sheriff's Department duty shirt, without patches, and a black basket weave duty belt. He left the store with the items, valued at $150, and got into a silver 2008 Infiniti G35 and the manager was able to get the license plate number which is reportedly registered to Cischke.

That same day, shortly after 8 p.m., an unknown man entered Bed Bath & Beyond, 1454 Higdon Ferry Road, and stole several items. The store manager stated the man was wearing a black T-shirt that had "POLICE" written on the front and "flashed" a silver badge clipped to his jeans while placing the items, valued at $1,000, in his cart.

He pushed the cart out of the store without paying for the items and loaded them into a silver Infiniti before leaving the scene. The manager was not able to get the license plate number.

On April 18, police detectives and sheriff's deputies made contact with Cischke who provided a possible nickname for the man seen driving her car as "J.T. Gibson."

The next day, Cischke contacted Detective Hunter Scott and reportedly admitted she was not truthful during her conversation the day before because the suspect was not in custody. She stated the man who had used her car had been arrested and was in the detention center.

Officers then located Gibson, who had been arrested earlier that morning. It was noted Gibson matched the person in the surveillance footage from Bed Bath & Beyond and his name was similar to the one provided by Cischke. A still photo from the surveillance footage was shown to the manager at Yellow Jacket who confirmed it was the same suspect.

On Friday, Scott showed a photo lineup to the manager of Yellow Jacket who positively identified Gibson as the man who had stolen items from her store. The warrants for Gibson's arrest were issued and served Monday.

Local on 04/25/2018

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