Former county corrections officer pleads guilty to impersonating charge

An Okawville man and former Washington County corrections officer pleaded guilty on Thursday to impersonating a police officer charge.

Ethan Foster, 23, appeared in Washington County Court and agreed to a plea deal for a Class 2 felony charge of false personification of a police officer. The negotiations included the dismissal of five other charges against him, according to online court records.

Foster’s sentencing has been deferred for 36 months to allow him to comply with second chance probation. He was ordered to complete 300 hours of community service within two years. He was also fined $1,250 and a probation fee of $650.

Charging documents filed in Washington County Circuit Clerk’s office, on or about August 18, Foster used oscillating, rotating or flashing lights on a motor vehicle when he as a “volunteer firefighter knowing and without legal authority” operated a 2015 Dodge Dart at a time he was not responding to an emergency call.

Foster also reportedly “falsely represented himself to be a peace office while carrying a deadly weapon and detained someone after initiating a traffic stop on a vehicle.” The person he detained, Chris Williams, was also reportedly prevented from leaving his vehicle, a blue 2018 Ford Mustang, court records state.

Foster had been employed as a corrections officer since January 2019. He was terminated as of the date of his arrest, which prompted further investigation.