A St. Louis man is accused of posing as a police officer and trying to get a loaded gun through airport security.
Now investigators want to know why the suspect was given a Kinloch police major’s badge and identification card.
The man installs radios and electronics for the Kinloch Police department, and Kinloch Police Chief Don Hardy says he gave the man the badge.
Airport police confirm, T.S.A. screeners found a weapon while the suspect was going through the security checkpoint entering concourse C & D.
They pulled 60-year-old James Franklin Chester out of line and seized a loaded Kel-Tec .380 semi-automatic pistol from his ankle holster.
According to court documents, Chester allegedly identified himself as a major with the Kinloch Police Department.
Police found he was not certified by the state and arrested him.
Chief Paul Mason with Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Police says, “When the police officers got there, this individual told them he was a police officer, and he had forgotten to take his off-duty weapon off.”
The gun was loaded with hollow-point bullets, say police.
Federal officials with the T.S.A. say Chester could face federal charges as well.