"Affluenza" Teen's Dad Arrested for Impersonating a Cop
The wealthy father of a Texas teen whose "affluenza" defense helped him avoid prison after a deadly drunk driving accident has been arrested for allegedly pretending to be a police officer, the Dallas News reported.
Ethan Couch, 16, is infamous for plowing a car into a crowd at high speed, killing 4 and injuring 2, and then getting off with probation by arguing he suffered from "affluenza"—that his family's wealth stunted his emotional development and led to his behavior.
Ethan's dad, Fred Couch, was arrested Tuesday morning because of a July incident where, North Richland Hills officers say, they found him at the scene of a disturbance in the middle of the night and he falsely claimed he was a cop from a nearby small town.
The Dallas News explains:
He told officers he could prove it, that he had his "police stuff" in his car. And, sure enough, he reached into the car, took out his wallet and showed the North Richland Hills officers "what appeared to be a police badge and identification card, suggesting he was a police officer," says the release. At that point, he was allowed to go.
The officers later checked on Couch's claims and found he had been lying. Couch is a millionaire industrialist and the owner of Cleburne Sheet Metal, but has never been a licensed Texas peace officer.
Couch has several previous arrests on charges including theft and evading arrest.
Ethan Couch is still serving 1o years probation and going to mandatory rehab that, despite the affluence that allegedly caused his crimes, is paid for mostly by the state of Texas.
[Photo: North Richland Hills PD via Dallas News]