Cody Rend Armstrong was scheduled to appear in court last Friday for a preliminary hearing on charges filed against him involving an incident in January at Castle Heights Elementary.
Armstrong failed to appear and is currently incarcerated in a correctional facility in northern Utah. Seventh District Judge Douglas B. Thomas then issued a $10,000 bench warrant for Armstrong. Judge Thomas recommended securing the prisoner at the Carbon County Jail until all legal issues are resolved.
Friday’s preliminary hearing was scheduled to address two charges against Armstrong including a second-degree felony charge of possession of a firearm by a restricted person and misdemeanor charge of possession of a firearm on school premises.
Armstrong was charged after he appeared at Castle Heights Elementary in January to pick up his step-children at the school. When questioned regarding contact information, Armstrong refused, stating that such information would jeopardize his role as an undercover police officer. Puzzled school officials then explained the situation to Price City Police Detective Ed Malmgren, who immediately launched an investigation into the matter.
Malmgren determined that Armstrong was not a law enforcement officer. The accused police impostor turned himself in and when questioned, admitted to possessing a firearm and impersonating an officer while at the elementary school. In April, Armstrong was additionally charged with witness tampering related to the case.
Police authorities and school officials insist that no children nor school staff were in danger during the incident at the school.