TH man charged with impersonating a police officer again

Akers/ Sullivan Co. Jail

By Lucy Perry 
Indiana Central News

SULLIVAN COUNTY -  A Terre Haute man already facing charges for impersonating a police officer in Vigo County allegedly once again put on the act after a crash in Sullivan County last weekend.

Franklin E. Akers, 52, was booked into the Sullivan County Jail Sunday around 5:30 p.m.  He is charged with reckless driving, criminal recklessness resulting in bodily injury, leaving the scene of a personal injury crash and impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom explained today that Akers allegedly  ran a cream -colored Mitsubishi Galant off the roadway -- causing it to crash into a pole, injuring one.

Andrea L. Sizemore, 20, of Vincennes, was transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital, suffering from head and facial injuries from the airbag deployment, Cottom said.

According to the report, Sullivan County deputies were dispatched to the Farmersburg area on a report of the road rage situation, heading south on US 41 into Sullivan County around 4:30 p.m.

Akers reportedly was driving a maroon Chevy Cruze,  traveling at speeds of 85 to 90 MPH.

A Vigo County Sheriff’s unit ultimately detained both vehicles on U.S.41 near Farmersburg, until Sullivan deputies arrived on scene.

"A witness in Sizemore’s vehicle reports that immediately after causing the crash, Akers briefly stopped and identified himself as a police officer, then fled the scene," Cottom said, adding that  Akers allegedly also ran Sizemore off the roadway in Vigo County.

Akers was arrested last month in Vigo County for impersonating a law enforcement officer.

This time around, Akers reportedly admitted to impersonating an officer, saying  he “was just being stupid.”

 Akers is being held on $16,000 Bond with no ten percent allowed.