Norway mayor charged with impersonating an officer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Authorities have arrested the mayor of Norway, saying he didn’t have the authority to be a police officer when he pulled over a state trooper who had just given him a ticket.

An arrest warrant from the State Law Enforcement Division accusing him of misconduct in office says 66-year-old Jim Preacher ordered a town clerk to pay him the same salary of the town’s previous police officer without getting Town Council’s permission.

SLED says Preacher also hired his son to work in Norway’s water department.

Preacher was taken to the Orangeburg County jail. Officials did not know if he had a bond hearing yet.

A phone call to Preacher went unanswered Tuesday. It wasn’t clear if he had an attorney.