By Rachel Cook
Idaho Falls Post Register
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — An Idaho Falls man with a habit of posing as a policeman will spend at least two years in prison for his impersonations.
Damian Bird, 18, pleaded guilty Monday to “unlawful exercise of the function of (a) police officer,” kidnapping and aggravated assault. Other charges, including burglary, were dismissed according to a plea agreement.
District Judge Dane H. Watkins Jr. sentenced Bird to serve two to five years in prison for impersonating an officer, and the same amount time for aggravated assault. He ordered Bird to serve two to 10 years in prison for kidnapping. The sentences run concurrently.
Watkins recommended Bird be placed in a therapeutic community in prison. He ordered Bird to pay a $1,000 fine for each charge and $700 in public defender costs. He left restitution to be determined.
Bird said that during his adolescent years he succeeded when he was supervised, but made “stupid decisions” when he used alcohol or drugs.
“I haven’t received the proper help,” Bird said. “I’ve been locked up most of my juvenile years.”
Bird said he hopes to attend college one day. Bird said he knew he’d created problems for his victims but that he needed to fix himself before he could make amends to them.
Watkins went over Bird’s criminal history, noting his 13 arrests and offenses as a juvenile. Court records show Bird was convicted of at least five impersonation charges in three other cases.
In addition to a methamphetamine addiction at a young age, Watkins said Bird has post-traumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and depression.
“When I look at your history, I think it’s a recipe for where we stand today,” Watkins said. “What can I do that will encourage you to change this life that you hate?”
Bird pretended to be an undercover cop and took a Droid cellphone from Cell Again in the Grand Teton Mall on March 22.
He then impersonated an undercover officer to get money for “fines” from a 19-year-old man March 23, taking the man into a car and driving him around Idaho Falls.
A manhunt for Bird was launched the evening of March 24 after witnesses said a man matching his description pulled over and threatened another man with a gun. The gun turned out to be an Airsoft gun. Bird was arrested the next day on his way to Idaho Falls from Shelley.
“We have a young man, only 18 years old, that is a great risk to society,” said Bonneville County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bevilacqua. “This time (Bird) went way, way overboard.”
Bevilacqua said Bird was diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder and has a “significant substance abuse problem.” He said Bird blames his issues on his mother, who is in prison, and a difficult upbringing.
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