Edgar County Deputies Defuse Dangerous Situation w/o Harm

Quick-thinking personnel at the Edgar County Sheriff's Department defused a dangerous situation without harm over the weekend.

A man identified as Justin A. Hefner came to the front window of the sheriff's office in Paris just before 10am Saturday. Hefner advised the dispatcher he was an officer with the Department of Defense and asked to speak to a deputy.

(JUSTIN HEFNER)

Deputies Matt Smith and Dee Burgin were alerted and came to the window. Deputies noticed Hefner was wearing an outer vest with a badge, with an American flag covering part of it, and a holster with the butt of a pistol showing.

Hefner told the deputies he was a federal officer with the Department of Defense and requested assistance arresting some people in Paris. The deputies knew of Hefner's history of possibly impersonating an officer.

The deputies went along with Hefner's assertion that he was an officer and talked him into locking his pistol into the gun vault before being allowed into the jail. Once he came through the locked door, the deputies talked Hefner into removing his outer body armor, which was found tohave 1/2-inch steel plates inside. He also was carrying handcuffs and mace. The deputies noted Hefner had another bullet proof vest on and convinced him to remove it, as well.

Unbeknowst to Hefner, sheriff's personnel contacted Paris city police to send officers to help.

Once he removed all the body armor, mace and handcuffs, the deputies took Hefner into custody without incident.

Once Hefner was in custody, deputies located a vehicle he had driven to the jail. Found inside was another badge, a large package of zip ties, duct tape, an AR-15 equipped with optics, bump stock, quick magazine release and a bi-pod. They also found a 100-round fully loaded drum magazine with several 30-pound magazines. The vehicle was equipped with flashing lights and a police dash cam.

Deputies found Hefner had a Facebook page, Constitutional Wounded Warriors, where he expressed plans as to who he was targeting in Edgar County and Paris.

Hefner was arrested on charges of impersonating a police officer, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of body armor. His bond has been set at $20,000.

Edgar County Sheriff Jeff Wood said his department has notified the FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security.