Deputy's badge used in theft

How and when the badge was stolen is under investigation.

A Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department badge fell into the wrong hands and was used in a robbery, the Cape Girardeau Police Department said Monday.

Exactly how and when the badge was lost is under investigation, sheriff's Capt. Ruth Ann Dickerson said. But the person accused of using it to empty a man's wallet at the KFC restaurant at 2101 William St., as well as his alleged accomplice, are in jail.

The deputy who lost the badge recently moved, Dickerson said. Whether the badge -- one of two issued to each deputy -- was misplaced while packing, lost during the move or stolen from the deputy's car is under investigation, she said.

"These situations happen," Dickerson said. "Badges are lost or stolen occasionally. It is unfortunate that someone who finds it uses it for the wrong thing instead of turning it in as lost property."

The robbery occurred about 10 p.m. Friday, police Sgt. Barry Hovis said, when Mark A. Brown, 30, of Scott City approached a man in the parking lot of the KFC. Brown allegedly showed the badge, announced he was an undercover officer and told the victim to place his hands on a car for a search.

"He said, 'Don't move or I'll punch you in the nose,'" Hovis said.

Brown allegedly removed the victim's wallet and while pretending to check the identification snatched the cash, Hovis said. Maintaining the ruse, Hovis said, Brown told the victim he wasn't the target of the "undercover" investigation. "He told him, 'OK, get out of here,'" Hovis said.

Brown was allegedly aided in the robbery by Trisie A. Egson, 50, of 528 N. Fountain St. in Cape Girardeau, Hovis said.

The victim spotted the pair on foot near West End Boulevard and Broadway Sunday afternoon, drove up and told them to stop, Hovis said. Brown and Egson fled. The victim called the police, and the two were captured near Independence Street and West End Boulevard by a police officer who was in the area at the time, he said.

The badge was recovered, Hovis said. "It worked out pretty good on this one," he said.

People should be cautious when handing over their identification, Hovis said. Most officers will ask people they stop to take their identification out of their wallet.

"I always do," Hovis said. "If someone starts to hand me their wallet, I ask them to remove it and hand it to me. It protects me" from allegations that anything was stolen.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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