The man who died in a standoff with Dallas SWAT officers served as a security guard for Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and had been posing as a police officer, according to several sources.
The individual, identified as Mike King, reportedly managed a business called Off Duty Police Service, which facilitated tasks for off-duty police officers, as noted by CBS News Texas. He was also allegedly wanted for charges related to impersonating a law enforcement official.
King lost his life on Wednesday after he entered a hospital parking lot, where police deployed tear gas to force him out of his vehicle. He allegedly pointed a gun at the officers, leading to the tragic conclusion.
Wednesday night marked the culmination of a tense situation with Dallas police SWAT officers. According to law enforcement, King entered a hospital parking lot, barricaded himself in his vehicle, and aimed a firearm at the police after being compelled to exit with tear gas.
He was facing charges for impersonating a police officer and operated Off Duty Police Service, a platform connecting North Texas police officers with off-duty opportunities. His actual name has not been disclosed by authorities.
Images obtained by the outlet showed King near Crockett at various events and during a recent campaign for the Texas Senate alongside Democratic candidate James Talarico.
Law enforcement from the Fugitive Task Force had been “surveilling” King and followed him to the parking lot of a children’s medical center, as indicated by Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeau, according to WFAA News.
Multiple officers mentioned that King’s company had been “posting job openings” on an online platform utilized by officers for off-duty security work.
Officials stated that King claimed to have high-profile clients, including banks, hotels, and political figures.
Dallas police informed WFAA that the company was listing jobs through RollKall, a site often used by police officers for securing off-duty work. Some city employees reportedly guarded certain posts without realizing the company was operating legally.
“There are definite concerns among police departments because they need to ensure the safety of their information,” remarked Sean Pease, president of the Dallas Police Association.
