Third Time’s A Charm
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On Saturday, November 28, 2020, Atoka Police Officer Cody Poe was working a stationary radar, facing west on Liberty Road near the intersection of City Lake Road, when he radared a grey 2016 Dodge 3500 pickup, pulling a trailer, traveling 70 miles per hour in a posted 45 mile per hour zone.
After traffic cleared, Officer Poe turned around to catch up to the vehicle, activating his emergency equipment.
At first, the driver did not stop, and traveled an additional five blocks before they began to slow and pull over near Kay Avenue.
Officer Poe made contact with the driver, identified as Louis Terrence Smith a.k.a. Cletis Smith, 41, of Dallas, Texas.
Smith told the officer, “I know you had me speeding.” He handed the officer an expired insurance form and a Texas Identification Card (ID) with another person’s name, Rahmad Lashawn Crouch, and a listed height of six foot two inches.
Going back to his patrol vehicle, Officer Poe checked on the status of the ID card and of the license plate. The check revealed there was not a valid driver’s license, but only a Texas identification card.
Smith was asked to step out of the vehicle and come to the back of the trailer to speak with the officer.
Officer Poe asked Smith how old he was, since he had never had a license. The identification check showed Crouch had never been issued a license to drive.
Smith said, “Thirty, uh, well you have my ID so you know.” Officer Poe told him that he did not have it in his hand and could not remember the birth date. Smith settled on providing the number 32 to be his age.
The ID card showed Crouch to be 38 years old. During the questions, Smith began to get nervous, and started looking around.
He was placed in handcuffs due to his behavior, and suspicion of giving the officer a fake identification card.
Officer Poe advised Smith he did not believe he was the person on the ID card due to him not knowing the correct age, and not being the same height as listed.
Smith stated he had given the officer his brother’s ID card, and that his real name was Cletis Smith. Officer Poe was unable to find a person by that name in his system even though Smith claimed he had active warrants.
The female passenger in the vehicle provided Smith’s correct name and date of birth to Officer Poe.
After checking for a third time with the correct information, it was shown Smith had a warrant alert out of Pardon and Parole located in Austin, Texas.
Pardon and Parole advised Officer Poe they wanted to place a hold on Smith for the warrants.
The female passenger did not have a valid driver’s license. The Dodge and trailer were towed from the scene by Donnie’s Wrecker Service.
Smith was transported to the Atoka County Jail, and booked for false impersonation and speeding. Officer Poe was able to get a picture of Smith emailed to him to verify his identity.
He is charged with falsely personate another to create liability (felony).
