Christopher Combs, 22, is no longer with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office after working as a cadet since August 2016.
The son of a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant, Combs is charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, and robbery with a weapon, after Broward County deputies say he performed a traffic stop on his ex-girlfriend while driving his dad's unmarked patrol car Saturday.
Two hours after Combs was arrested, there was already an email alert sent to many of the Broward County brass.
It said, in part, that Combs "is the son of a PBSO lieutenant. The family is aware he is incarcerated and expressed concern for his safety."
A sergeant signed the email, saying he's warned staff because Combs will most likely need to be under close observation in the infirmary.
Combs walked out of the jail on Monday morning, headed to house arrest.
According to Combs's arrest report, Lt. David Combs, his father, told deputies he had been out of town but knew his son had the car, and that it wasn't at their home. Lt. Combs then told deputies he called his son "confirming the car hadn't moved all day."
When deputies arrived at that friend's home, the car was still "hot to touch as if it had been recently driven," according to deputies.
Deputies say earlier that morning, Combs used the car, its emergency flashing lights, and PA system, to pull over his ex-girlfriend and a friend.
Deputies say Combs and friends demanded the couple get out of their car and on the ground, then robbed them.
PBSO policy shows only approved employees can take approved cars home. But it's a "one person, one car, take home program."
According to PBSO guidelines, as a cadet, Christopher Combs did not have the authorization to drive a police vehicle, unmarked or otherwise.
An internal investigation on Lt. David Combs is now being conducted.
