A West Jordan man is facing serious charges stemming from an incident at an area school in January.
Twenty-eight-year-old Cody Rend Armstrong was charged April 3 with multiple counts of impersonating an officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. There were no threats or imminent danger to anyone at the school that day, said Price City Police Sergeant Bill Barnes.
On January 25, Price City Police Detective Ed Malmgren was at Castle Heights Elementary for DARE graduation. A school official told him she had met a new armed undercover officer on a previous day. Malmgren was a bit puzzled.
Staff at the school stated that Armstrong identified himself as stepfather of two students at the school. The children also identified him as such. When the school repeatedly asked for updated contact information, Armstrong declined, stating his position as an undercover officer as the reason.
Malmgren immediately launched an investigation into Armstrong and learned he was not a member of any known law enforcement agency. He also learned that Armstrong was a convicted felon. Armstrong did not return to the school and seemed to have dropped from sight.
According to Barnes, a warrant was requested for Armstrong during the investigation.
The break in the case occurred April 2, when Armstrong contacted the Price City Police Department, stating he heard someone was looking for him. Malmgren requested a meeting the following day. During the interview Armstrong admitted to possessing a firearm and impersonating an officer.
He was then arrested and charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, a second-degree felony, one count of impersonating a police officer, a class B misdemeanor, and possession of a weapon on school property, a class A misdemeanor.
Armstrong appeared Wednesday in front of Seventh District Court Judge Douglas B. Thomas. Armstrong will seek his own counsel. Bail was reduced from $300,000 to $3,000. He was able to post bond and was released.
Armstrong is scheduled to appear back in court May 17.