He allegedly flashed his emergency lights and used a siren during a road rage incident on Dec. 22.
A former volunteer fire firefighter in Cocke County has been charged with criminal impersonation after a road rage incident.
According to an report from the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office, a woman posted on social media that a man in a white truck with emergency lights and a siren had been following her on Cosby Highway in a “road rage incident” on Dec. 22.
The driver, later identified as 22-year-old Henry Riegger, of Bybee, allegedly tailgated and brake-checked the woman before flashing his emergency lights, showing a badge and using a radio and sirens. The report said he followed her on several back roads, but he turned around as she was driving to the police station for help.
A few days later on Dec. 26, CCSO said a firefighter, who was determined to be Reigger, was “running emergency traffic in Cosby because he believed he was having a medical emergency.” Dispatchers then told him to “stop the vehicle so he did not accidentally cause a wreck.” He stopped at the Wilton Springs Hardware Store, and law enforcement determined it was the same truck involved in the incident on Dec. 22.
After this, the report said deputies contacted the woman who said she was “terrified” of his actions and “could only think of driving to the Gatlinburg Police Station” because she didn’t have a cell phone and was scared to stop. Additionally, she said when he “flashed his badge,” she assumed he was “acting under the authority of law enforcement.”
Deputies then contact the Centerview Volunteer Fire Department, and the fire chief said Riegger did not have permission to run emergency traffic in his personal vehicle and that VFD members can use the lights when “parked on scene.” However, he last call he responded to with the department was back in September.
Deputies also contacted the Parrotsville Volunteer Fire Department, who said he wasn’t an active member with the department as of November.
Riegger was taken into custody on Dec. 28 and charged with criminal impersonation, failure to equip emergency vehicles with horn, bell, siren or exhaust, violation of light law and reckless driving.
Sheriff CJ Ball sent WVLT News the following statement, saying the sheriff’s office doesn’t tolerate this behavior from anyone.
The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office will not tolerate this kind of behavior from anyone intimidating the public. If we can identify the suspect in such case, we will prosecute every time. We have great volunteers in our community that show professionalism and work great with each call of service. Do not let this represent against them over one’s actions. Our volunteers work extremely hard every day for no pay, they as well are upset that this has taken place. Law Enforcement in Cocke County along with state, and city law enforcement only have blue lights on emergency vehicles. If you cannot be sure that is a law enforcement officer, dial 911 or call non-emergency numbers at 423-623-3064 to verify the traffic stop is legit. Be sure to slow down and get to a safe location and the dispatchers will confirm with you that the stop is taken place and you need to pull over. We appreciate any call that will help us when this violation of the law takes place so we can work together to prevent this incident.