By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – A 38-year-old Alabaster man has been released from jail on a $10,000 bond after he allegedly produced a badge and threatened a victim while shopping in the Alabaster Walmart.

Alabaster police arrested Charles Damon Lewis, who lists an address in the 600 block of 12^th Street Northwest, on June 26 and charged him with one felony count of impersonating a peace officer.

Lewis’ arrest came a few days after the victim in the case reported being threatened by Lewis at the Walmart, said Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney.

During the confrontation, Lewis allegedly flashed a badge at the victim and stated, “(The victim) is lucky he is not going to jail,” according to Lewis’ arrest warrant.

“He did present a badge. It wasn’t a real police badge, but it was hard to tell looking at it from a distance,” Rigney said. “That fits the statute for that charge.”

Rigney said the suspect and the victim did not know each other before the confrontation, and said the victim made a report to the police department after the incident.

“We take these kind of cases seriously. It’s a serious offense,” Rigney said.

Impersonating a peace officer is a Class C felony. If convicted, Lewis could face up to 10 years in prison.