Local

Belmont couple accused of pretending to be police officers, assaulting man

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. — A Belmont couple is facing charges after being accused of pretending to be police officers and assaulting a man.

Police said the suspects and the two alleged victims in the case had no connection at all until the incident in a Mount Holly McDonald's parking lot Thursday night.

A bystander called 911.

"They are out here fussing and pushing on each other and jerking people out of the car," the caller told the emergency dispatcher.

Police said the man and woman listed as victims had argument with each other in their car in the parking lot.

Randall Johnson and Jennifer Morgan saw the argument and decided to take matters into their own hands, authorities said.

"The two suspects in this situation just interjected themselves into a situation that they really had no business interjecting themselves into to," Mount Holly Police Department Chief Don Roper said.

Police said the couple claimed they were undercover officers.

"Pulled them out of the vehicle and allegedly assaulted them and told them that they were under arrest," Roper said. The alleged victims had a relative nearby who ran over to help and the police showed up.

No one was seriously hurt and while Johnson and Morgan didn't have badges or a gun, their actions were still dangerous, Roper said.

"Our officers work real hard to develop trust in the community," Roper said. "You don't know what these people's intentions are."

If citizens have questions about someone claiming to be an officer, ask to see a badge or ID, Roper said.
Morgan and Johnson face a judge in three weeks.