By Ben Flanagan
al.com
MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. — Morgan County can definitely smell what the Rock is cooking, thanks to a lookalike in the sheriff’s office.
Patrol Lieutenant Eric Fields happens to resemble none other than Dwayne Johnson, the world-famous movie star known for “Jumanji” movies and one of the most beloved professional wrestlers of all time.
The sheriff’s office posted this on Facebook last week when a local fan had to see it for himself: “This gentlemen recently ran into Sgt. Mason and informed him he wanted to meet our Deputy that people say looks like “The Rock”. Sgt. Mason passed that along and Lieutenant Fields was happy to swing by the Hartselle Wal-mart to see him. Tyler is one of their many hardworkers and it was great to meet him and some of his coworkers!”
Sure enough, that fan and many others feel the same way about the muscular law enforcement officer (who also shaves his head like Johnson), with some even posting comparisons on TikTok.
Fields, 37, has worked for the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office for 17 years including at the jail, in investigations, in the special victims unit and with drug-endangered children before being sworn in as a Deputy U.S. Marshal. He was promoted to corporal and then worked from sergeant to lieutenant over patrol for which he handles tactical training and serves as firearms instructor.
Fields said it’s been “a running joke” for a few years now, but the comparisons don’t even stop at Johnson. “I’ve been called The Rock and Vin Diesel’s love child,” Fields said. “I go along with it. It’s humorous. It’s flattering. It could be worse people, I guess.”
The self-described cut-up said he’ll go along with it enough to do an impression of both Johnson and Diesel if pressed to do so. In the meantime, friends might call and ask “Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?” borrowing the former pro wrestler’s famous catchphrase.
Last week, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office posted a photo of Fields and “fan” who just had to meet him. A colleague was at a local Walmart where he told someone he had a co-worker who looked just like The Rock. When he learned that person was a huge fan of his movies and wrestling career, he called Fields out to meet him in person. More than anything, he didn’t want to disappoint the fan. But given the resemblance, he did no such thing.
“The blessing was really for me because he had a spirit that was just such a great person to meet.,” Fields said. “He’s the real celebrity. Everybody knew him and loved him. It was a blessing to me. I go trying to bless someone else, and I come out with the blessing of meeting him. I wish the actual Rock could meet this kid. He’s the hometown hero.”
Above all, Fields hopes it only allows him to further connect with the people in Morgan County.
“We really love to get involved with the community, cut up and be neighbors — not just enforcement,” he said.
He said his family even sees it, with his wife often buying him Dwayne Johnson paraphernalia for workouts. But despite people’s expectations to get as close as they might ever get to meeting The Rock via Fields’ resemblance, he said he wouldn’t want to disappoint them and can only be himself.
“I don’t want to disappoint anybody,” Fields said. “I walk up one day and at a different angle, I don’t know. It’s flattering, but it’s also a little nerve-racking as far as what others expect I guess.
“I just plan on being me. I’ll cut up. I’m a big cut-up. If it comes up and somebody says that, I’ll play along. I really couldn’t be anybody but me. I’m just glad I could be part of someone’s happiness and laughter.”
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