Man Charged with Impersonating Officer as he Gets Past Athens-Clarke Jail Security

A man told a sheriff's deputy he was a retired police officer, turned over a pocket knife on a key chain, and was allowed into a secure bond hearing room of the on Saturday, the Athens Banner-Herald reports.

Robert Andrew Cooper, 50, of Statham was charged with impersonating a police officer, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct after telling the deputy he had permission to sit in on a bond hearing, then went on a racially charged rant against Sheriff Ira Edwards, who is black, the paper reported.

The man was arrested after refusing to leave the jail. Officials are investigating whether proper security procedures were followed.