Pinal County Constable John Acton is back in the news after winning the election last November in spite of being asked by both Sheriff Paul Babeu and the Arizona Constables Association to withdraw from the Pinal County race due to allegations of impersonating a Police Officer and falsifying his service as a Chicago police officer.
The first investigation began after a citizen requested our office look into the allegation that John Acton committed Fraud by telling voters he served as a Chicago Officer including a Homicide Detective for over 26 years and allegations related to his service in the United States Military. PCSO turned this investigation to the Arizona Department of Public Safety who assigned it to their Major Crimes District. On April 21st, 2015 our office received the attached letter from AZ DPS which shows their office recommends the charge of Fraudulent Schemes which is a class 2 felony. The case was forwarded to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for review and charging.
The second investigation began on April 7th, 2015 after an elderly couple reported that Acton confronted them in a Fry’s parking lot in San Tan Valley. Acton exited his vehicle after blocking in the elderly couples vehicle and approached their driver’s side window. Acton was wearing a hat which said “Constable” and he was also wearing a gun and badge. The elderly couple assumed he was a law enforcement officer. Acton yelled and pointed his finger at the elderly couple and accused them of cutting him off and said that he was going to write them “the biggest, fattest ticket that you’ll ever see and that you would never be able to get out of it and that he would see to it.” The description of what occurred by the elderly couple was consistent with the description of an independent witness.
Acton was questioned and denied the allegation and gave statements regarding what occurred which were not consistent with the store security video that captured the incident. Detectives at the conclusion of their investigation, forwarded the case to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office and have asked that John Acton be charged with the criminal offenses of Impersonating a Police Officer and Threatening and Intimidating.
The third case began on May 4th, 2015. A female reported that a man was standing behind her vehicle in her driveway and refused to move. The man demanded her identification and said that he was with the “Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.” She didn’t feel he was in law enforcement based on his clothing and vehicle. She refused to give her identification at which point according to the female, Acton said that he would “be back with Sheriff’s Deputies to kick her front door down.” She began to take photos of the man at which point he left. Deputies looked at the photos and determined it was once again John Acton. The registration on the vehicle also returned to John Acton.
John Acton was contacted by PCSO at his home and he said that he wanted to now file charges against the female for almost hitting him with her vehicle. He said that he “twisted” his knee trying to get out of the way of the vehicle. Acton denied ever stating that he was with the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies saw Acton was not limping or showing any sign of pain in his knee while walking or standing. This case is closed as there were no independent witnesses or evidence which proves exactly what occurred.
Related Stories:
Babeu demands Pinal County constable candidate withdraw from race
Constables Association calls on Acton to withdraw from Pinal County race