A Boutte man accused of impersonating a police officer as he went door to door asking for money recently pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor impersonation of a public official.
Thomas Gereighty, 27, of 129 Spruce St., received a suspended sentence of 90 days in prison that he can avoid by completing six months inactive probation after accepting a plea agreement, which dropped his charge from an original count of false personation of a peace officer.
St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cpl. James Grimaldi said police received a call that alleged Gereighty was walking door to door on Magnolia Manor Boulevard in Boutte begging citizens for money last November.
Gereighty was reportedly wearing a baseball cap with a fabric NOPD badge on the front and NOPD written on the back. He also had a T-shirt with a stitched NOPD badge on it and, according to court documents, had “official uniform item” noted on the back.
According to court documents, Gereighty told officers he got the clothes from his wife, who he claimed worked for the New Orleans Police Department. But deputies said Gereighty could not provide a valid reason as to why he was in the neighborhood and that he gave an inconsistent story about his vehicle breaking down in St. Rose.
“According to the (arrest) report, he identified himself as a New Orleans City Police Officer (to the home residents) and just asked for money,” said Grimaldi.
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