A Malvern man is accused of trying to steal a four-wheeler and then claiming to be a sheriff's deputy Sunday in an area damaged by last week's EF4 tornado in Faulkner County.
David Griffin, 72, is facing charges of theft of property, criminal impersonation and criminal trespass, according to the Faulkner County sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office said in a statement that a resident of the River Plantation neighborhood south of Mayflower on Sunday reported finding a man attempting to load his son's four-wheeler onto a black trailer. The would-be thief unloaded the four-wheeler after being confronted and then said his name was "John Smith" and he was with the sheriff's office, the statement said.
Investigators located Griffin more than half a mile away on River Road West, where he reportedly had a permit to assist in the recovery effort at his granddaughter's home.
"Mr. Griffin told investigators he was taking the four-wheeler to find who the owner was," the sheriff's office said in the statement. "Mr. Griffin said he was just trying to help out."
Griffin was arrested without incident and booked into jail, where he remained Monday with bail not yet set.