CLEARFIELD – A Morrisdale man accused of impersonating a police officer after Wal-Mart employees wouldn’t permit him to return an item waived the charges to court on Wednesday.
Brooks M. Beveridge, 32, of Morrisdale has been charged by Lawrence Township police with impersonating a public servant, simple assault and disorderly conduct. Bail has been set at $10,000 unsecured.
The charges against Beveridge stem from his alleged actions while attempting to return an item at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Clearfield on Feb. 7.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, when a male, later identified as Beveridge, attempted an item return, he was informed that he could not due to store policies. The male then allegedly flashed a firearm and advised Wal-Mart employees that he worked as an undercover police officer.
Upon receiving the report Feb. 8, police made contact with the first victim, and she went to the station for an interview about the incident. During the interview, she told police at approximately 8:30 a.m. Feb. 7, a male came in while she was working at the customer service desk.
She said the male returned batteries, which were valued at $10.43. He then attempted to return an Apple TV, which was valued at approximately $199.99. She requested a receipt from him, at which point he informed her that he didn’t have one.
According to her, the male said he’d purchased the item from the Wal-Mart store in State College approximately one to two weeks before that. She attempted to run the device’s serial number, which was “worn” and “hard to read.”
She said the device’s serial number didn’t match the one on the box, which the male had with him. As a result, she informed him that she was unable to complete a return on the item. She said it made the male “agitated,” and she got a customer service manager.
After they attempted the return, the customer service manager told the male it wasn’t possible for the same reason as previously given to him. The first victim alleged to police that the male then opened his jacket to show them a concealed firearm and informed he was an undercover police officer, “so why would he lie about this.”
When asked, the victim told police she felt uncomfortable by this. She also believed the male did it in an effort to intimidate them.
She also said that after he became agitated about them being unable to make a return, they got a second manager. This manager proceeded to explain the same problems to the male, and he allegedly opened his jacket again to show the firearm and informed he worked as an undercover police officer.
When police asked if the male made any additional comments, she said he kept saying he needed the money for gas and groceries for his children. She said he told them that they could just give him $100, which they advised wasn’t permissible.
The first victim said she then heard the male say “just give me $10,”as he needed the money. She said he was informed they weren’t permitted to do that, and he continued to say they had to do something with it being their fault, not his own.
Police interviewed the second victim, the customer service manager, who confirmed the first victim’s report. She also told police when the male showed them the firearm, it made her feel uncomfortable and intimidated, which is why she requested another manager to assist them.
The second victim said she contacted the Wal-Mart store in State College. She said it was subsequently discovered that it didn’t sell that item within the last two weeks to Beveridge. After all three advised him the return wasn’t possible, she said the male left on his own.
Finally, police interviewed the third victim, the manager who assisted at the customer service desk on the date in question. She confirmed both of the previous reports given to police.
After obtaining evidence, police were able to identify the male as Beveridge. Police also obtained and watched the video surveillance from Wal-Mart, which clearly depicted Beveridge as described by the victims.
Both managers told police the male left the store and drove away in a black Nissan truck. Police ran all vehicles registered to Beveridge and found he owned a 2016 Nissan truck with a Pennsylvania registration.
Police then contacted the Clearfield County Sheriff’s Department. It was found Beveridge had a permit to conceal, and police sought for it to be revoked. Police were advised by a sheriff’s deputy that it would be.
Upon the collection and review of evidence, it was discovered that once Beveridge’s permit had been taken away, he attempted to call the arresting officer numerous times. On Feb. 14 the officer contacted Beveridge to arrange for an interview and asked him to come into the station, which he did.
During the interview, Beveridge told police he was in the Wal-Mart store on the morning of Feb. 7 to attempt to return an Apple TV valued at approximately $200. Initially, Beveridge told police he did not recall where he’d purchased the item.
When police told him store employees advised he’d purchased it at State College, he agreed to it. When police told him the State College store indicated he did not purchase it there, Beveridge changed his story and claimed he purchased it somewhere else. When asked where, Beveridge said he did not know.
When asked about carrying the firearm into the store, Beveridge told police he carried one “everywhere.” Further, he admitted to carrying a Beretta 92FS Inox, which he had concealed under his jacket with a brown holster, and it’s the same make and model as he used to carry in the U.S. Air Force.
However, Beveridge denied showing the firearm to anyone at Wal-Mart. When told three employees reported differently, Beveridge said he did show it to the guys who had asked about him being in the military.
When advised there were only females present, Beveridge changed his story again. He claimed he told them he was retired from the U.S. Air Force, and it ultimately resulted in him showing his firearm.
At that point, police advised Beveridge that the story given by the employees was “much different.” Beveridge changed his story once more, saying the firearm was accidentally shown, as it sticks out due to the style of its holster.
Police proceeded to explain to Beveridge the story given by the employees and how he was shown in the store surveillance video. Beveridge then told police he gets “hot,” which is what caused him to open his jacket numerous times at the store and he does it all of the time.
When asked by police, Beveridge said he didn’t recall what statements he made to the female employees. When advised by police of their reports, Beveridge claimed that they were all lying, he didn’t know why and he told them he was a “retired non-commissioned officer.”
Police advised Beveridge that all three employees gave the same report, and it didn’t closely resemble his claims. However, Beveridge continued to deny that he commented that he was an undercover police officer.
Beveridge, when told by police he wasn’t believed to be telling the truth, said he’d taken numerous classes on people lying and didn’t find he was showing any signs of deception.
When asked why he needed the money, Beveridge said he did not. More specifically, when asked why he was willing to take $10 for a $200 item, he claimed he was joking and the employees must not have understood his sense of humor.
Police asked Beveridge again about the employees stating he’d informed them he was an undercover police officer. This time Beveridge claimed the employees asked to see the firearm when he told them he was a veteran.
Police pointed out to Beveridge that his story kept changing to which he stated, “This is why I need a lawyer.” Police then terminated the interview with Beveridge while it could not continue after his request for a lawyer.
Beveridge tried to recant, saying he “never said that” and “didn’t mean it that way,” the affidavit states. Police proceeded to escort Beveridge out to his mother who was in the lobby.
Approximately 10 minutes later, Beveridge contacted the officer at the station. He said he’d made a mistake during the interview, and he’d sold the firearm, which wouldn’t be registered to him anymore. The officer advised they couldn’t discuss the case any further, as he’d requested a lawyer and his charges would be sent by mail. Beveridge became upset and hung up the phone.
Approximately 20 minutes later, Beveridge contacted the officer again. He begged for a warning and related he would apologize to the victims. Beveridge was advised again by the officer it wouldn’t be discussed anymore.
After telling the officer he had “nothing on him,” Beveridge was informed to discuss it with his lawyer in court. The officer also told Beveridge he was ending the call, which caused Beveridge to hang up on him.
Later Feb. 14, police contacted Beveridge’s mother about firearms registered to her son. Police explained they couldn’t find any registered to him, and she advised her son had sold the Beretta the night before. She wasn’t for sure to whom Beveridge had sold the firearm to.
Police ended the phone call with Beveridge’s mother who began to make excuses for his behavior and relay information from him, the affidavit states.