Two Florida men have been arrested after officials say they pretended to be federal marshals to walk around a resort without wearing masks.
Walter Wayne Brown Jr., 53, and Gary Brummett, 81, were arrested on Feb. 11 at the Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort and charged in federal court with impersonating a federal officer.
The manager said Brummett went down to the front desk earlier on Feb. 11 for a cup of coffee. After he was asked to put on a face covering, he revealed a laminated card purporting to show he was exempt from doing so. The card was titled, “FACEMASK EXEMPT NOTICE/CARD,” according to court documents.
“I am exempt from any ordinance requiring face mask usage in public,” the card read. “Wearing a face mask poses a mental and/or physical risk to me. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I am not required to disclose my condition to you.”
The manager said Brummett also pointed toward his belt, where a false badge was hanging.
“Do you know what this means?” he allegedly said. “I’m a U.S. marshal and can have you arrested if you force me to wear a mask.”
Two days earlier, employees at the hotel said they had a nearly identical experience when Brown checked in.
When Brown showed up sans mask on Feb. 9, they handed him a face mask and asked him to wear it, but, like Brummett, he refused and pointed toward his badge and laminated card. It is unclear whether Brown ever put on a mask, but the next day, he returned to the front desk to extend his stay without a mask on. When the manager confronted him, he threatened to have the employee arrested.
After the interactions, the staff decided to call authorities about the suspicious behavior. When police and an actual U.S. marshal arrived, they found the two men dining in the hotel restaurant. Investigators said the laminated cards were fake.
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The men were also wearing “authentic appearing” badges that read, “Cherokee Nation Marshal.” After looking into the matter, it was determined that neither Brown nor Brummett were ever employed by the U.S. Marshals Service or the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, investigators said.
No bond was set for Brown or Brummett. Both remain in custody as they await trial.
