KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A man is facing a charge of impersonating a licensed professional, among others, after telling staff he was working security at the Zach Top concert at the Tennessee Valley Fair, according to court records.
On Sept. 9, Luke Jones arrived at the fair wearing black pants, a black leather duty belt, a black hat and a black shirt with "security" written across the front. Jones knowingly and intentionally went through the gate without paying under false pretenses, warrants said.
According to the arrest warrant, he walked up to the concert, trespassed behind barricades through private doors and onto the backstage of the amphitheater.
He told other staff he was working security at the event. Before being detected, Jones fled the scene.
On Sept. 15, an officer found Jones on Magnolia Avenue near Bertrand and detained him. Authorities then took him back to the Tennessee Valley Fair to interview him.
Jones told officials he was a licensed security guard and had been working for Justin McConnell for approximately two weeks. He went on to say he quit and turned in his license, the arrest warrant states.
However, Jones could not provide the name of the security company or give a phone number for McConnell.
He said he had received security training to get his certification and also worked security at The Kennedy in downtown Knoxville, CareCuts and St. James Lutheran Church, according to officials. Jones also said he bought his security shirt and handcuffs at Greene's Military on Kingston Pike.
Jones then surrendered his black security shirt, handcuffs and key, and his duty belt.
Jones was also charged with criminal trespassing and theft up to $1,000. He is expected in court on Oct. 3.