Posted 12:06 am Friday, October 26, 2012
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Woman posing as a cop arrested in court
BY KENNETH DEAN
kdean@tylerpaper.com
A woman with a lengthy criminal history, including armed robbery and escape from a correctional facility, is back behind bars after her arrest Thursday morning on charges of impersonating an officer.
kdean@tylerpaper.com
A woman with a lengthy criminal history, including armed robbery and escape from a correctional facility, is back behind bars after her arrest Thursday morning on charges of impersonating an officer.
Police say 39-year-old Jennifer Louise Cowser approached several Hispanic men in recent months and asked whether they wanted to have sexual relations with her.
After the men agreed, she asked them to meet her at another location, but that is when Don Martin, Tyler police spokesman, said Ms. Cowser showed a badge to the men.
“When she took them to another location — that is when she presented the badge and got their wallet as if she was getting their ID and then she took off in her car,” he said.
One incident happened at the D&N Grocery on West Bow Street on Oct. 7 when police said she took the victim’s wallet out of his pocket before she left the area.
A week later, police said she told a man at a car wash in the 5000 block of Texas Highway 31 West if he failed to cooperate, he would be arrested. She then went through his vehicle and stole several items before leaving.
Martin said police are working another case earlier in the year where three men told officers the same type of crime happened to them.
“We got some tips. Possibly they knew who she was, they just had to locate her name. Once they located her name, they said this is who we think she is,” he said.
Martin said after a photo lineup, detectives were able to develop enough probable cause to obtain warrants.
“When she took them to another location — that is when she presented the badge and got their wallet as if she was getting their ID and then she took off in her car,” he said.
One incident happened at the D&N Grocery on West Bow Street on Oct. 7 when police said she took the victim’s wallet out of his pocket before she left the area.
A week later, police said she told a man at a car wash in the 5000 block of Texas Highway 31 West if he failed to cooperate, he would be arrested. She then went through his vehicle and stole several items before leaving.
Martin said police are working another case earlier in the year where three men told officers the same type of crime happened to them.
“We got some tips. Possibly they knew who she was, they just had to locate her name. Once they located her name, they said this is who we think she is,” he said.
Martin said after a photo lineup, detectives were able to develop enough probable cause to obtain warrants.
He added officers executed a search warrant at her residence on Spur 248 where they found additional evidence including clothing that matched the clothing seen in video surveillance.
Martin said Ms. Cowser was arrested while she was appearing on an unrelated drug charge Thursday morning. She has been charged with the two felony counts of impersonating an officer and two counts of theft.
Ms. Cowser remained jailed late Thursday afternoon on bonds totaling $320,000.
A look at the woman’s criminal history shows convictions for aggravated robbery, robbery, multiple drug convictions, two escapes from custody, possession of a prohibited item tobacco/controlled substance/phone in a correctional facility, credit card abuse and resisting arrest.
Martin said Ms. Cowser was arrested while she was appearing on an unrelated drug charge Thursday morning. She has been charged with the two felony counts of impersonating an officer and two counts of theft.
Ms. Cowser remained jailed late Thursday afternoon on bonds totaling $320,000.
A look at the woman’s criminal history shows convictions for aggravated robbery, robbery, multiple drug convictions, two escapes from custody, possession of a prohibited item tobacco/controlled substance/phone in a correctional facility, credit card abuse and resisting arrest.
