I just can’t make this stuff up. Got Captain Dudley’s weekly report, and in it is this story. I love his own additions- personal reflections and memories- but also, because I have an intense hatred of limos, and, the story is great in other ways… the sheer tackiness of it all. Enjoy, and thanks Capt. Dudley! I like the important detail of “other jurisdiction” law enforcement, haha.

Have you ever looked into one of those big limousines and wondered who was inside? Sgt. John Colla found out on Friday, 1/12/07 around noon when a limo driver pulled up to Central Station to complain about unwanted guests still inside his vehicle. Sgt. Colla found inside no less than four hired off-duty, other jurisdiction law enforcement, ‘bodyguards’, two female ‘escorts’ and one very self-important man claiming to be a member of the band, “Earth, Wind and Fire.” Considering that I had just seen the “Legends of Latin Rock” the previous evening at Bimbo’s on Columbus, it made sense to me. The trouble was, a lot of people bought this man’s story. After all was said and done and sorted out, the imposter who had no connection to that band or any other, had bilked a hotel, a limousine service, the four male bodyguards, the two female “escorts” and one credit card victim out of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and services. The suspect was booked on several counts of Fraud, a Burglary Warrant, possession of suspected “Crack cocaine” and a Parole Violation. The stay inside Central Station’s holding cell and the ride to SF County Jail was free, on us.

photo courtesy of 8notes