Phenix City man accused of impersonating officer after stopped in speeding BMW

Flashing a federal badge didn’t help a Phenix City man after he was clocked speeding 90 mph in a 70 mph zone Thursday on Interstate 185 in LaGrange, the Troup County Sheriff’s Office said.

Jay Diamond was stopped about 1:04 p.m. by deputy Billy Baker when he was observed in a white BMW traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver told Baker that he was a federal air marshal and held the badge in his hand.

The deputy tried to get more information on Diamond’s credentials before Baker recognized the badge to be a collector’s item. Diamond then told the deputy that he is not a federal agent.

Diamond was taken into custody and charged with speeding, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and impersonating an officer. Deputies contacted agents with Homeland Security and Diamond could also face charges with the federal government.

This story was originally published August 25, 2018 at 12:00 AM.