Pa. man crashed while impersonating first responder, police say

Police said the man had flashing blue lights on his vehicle, which also displayed emblems from fire and EMS departments he is not a member of

July 27, 2020 10:08 AM

Police say Christopher Garrison, 28, crashed his vehicle last week while impersonating a first responder. This mugshot shows Garrison after his arrest last year for allegedly impersonating an undercover police officer in a separate incident.

Becky Metrick
The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. — A Franklin County man is again in trouble for impersonating a public servant after being involved in a crash last week, according to state police.

Christopher Garrison, 28, was in a crash in the area of Jack and Shields roads in Saint Thomas Township on July 22, according to state police.

While investigating the crash, police say officers learned that Garrison has flashing blue lights on his gold 2000 Chevrolet Blazer and displayed emblems and stickers from local fire and emergency services companies.

This included a Franklin Fire Company 4 emblem, police say, which is a fire company out of Chambersburg.

Garrison is not a member of any fire or EMS companies, police say.

As recently as April of this year, Garrison was cited for having improper lights on his vehicle, referencing the use of lights reserved for emergency vehicles, according to online court dockets.

In October 2019, Garrison was accused of impersonating a public servant and charged with a misdemeanor, according to online court dockets. Earlier this year, he pleaded no contest to the charge and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, followed by the county weekender program and electronic monitoring to last 2 years.

New charges against Garrison were not listed by state police or available in online dockets.

State police are asking that anyone who has witnessed similar activity from Garrison is asked to contact the Chambersburg state police barracks at 717-264-5161 and speak to Tpr. Farnsler.

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