Woman to Convenience Store Clerk: ‘I’m Undercover’

A Dacula woman who was reportedly irate that staff at a local convenience store refused to do anything about a gathering of teens ended up in jail after allegedly implying that she was an undercover police officer.

A clerk at the Texaco gas station located near Mill Creek High School called police on Oct. 25 to report the incident.

According to the clerk, several Mill Creek High School students were gathered near the gas station as they do every day after school. The clerk said the teens “never really cause any problems and they spend a good bit of money at the store,” so the staff and management do not mind them being there.

A customer at the store, however, was not pleased with the teens' presence.

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The clerk said a woman, later identified as Gazme Capanerridley, 44, of Dacula, parked in a handicap spot close to where the high school students had gathered. A few moment later, Capanerridley, who the clerk described as “irate,” walked into the store and told him that something needed to be done about the teenagers selling drugs in the parking lot. Capanerridley reportedly demanded the clerk call the store owner and the clerk refused, explaining the teens did not cause any problems. The clerk informed the woman she could return the following morning when the owner would be at the store if she wished to speak with him.

At that point, a second clerk arrived at the store and he too tried to address Capanerridley’s concerns to no avail. According to the second clerk, Capanerridley said she “knew people in high places” and would return with the FBI, INS and “other police” to shut them down. Capanerridley then walked outside and then moved her car to a spot directly in front of the store. The first clerk decided to take a photo of Capanerridley’s license plate. When Capanerridley saw him, she reportedly became angrier and informed the clerk she was undercover. The clerk told the officer he took that statement to mean that Capanerridley was an undercover police officer.

After reviewing surveillance video of the incident, the officer ran the tag number of Capanerridley’s vehicle and obtained her home address. The officer went to Capanerridley’s Hamilton Mill home and was met at the front door by Capanerridley’s husband. The husband said Capanerridley was at work and offered to let the officer speak with her by phone.

Capanerridley initially said she simply stopped to get gas and drove home. Upon further questioning, she said she witnessed what appeared to be a drug transaction and went inside the store to notify the employees. When asked why she didn’t call the police herself, Capanerridley reportedly said she did not feel it was her place to do so. She also denied identifying herself as an undercover police officer.

The officer left his card with Capanerridley’s husband and asked that Capanerridley stop by the police precinct to meet with him. The officer explained that due to inconsistencies in Capanerridley’s statements, the witness statements and the video surveillance that he intended to apply for an arrest warrant unless Capanerridley was able to clear up those inconsistencies.

Later that day, Capanerridley arrived at the precinct and met with the officer. After reading Capanerridley her Miranda rights, the officer presented her with a written form listing those rights. Capanerridley signed it, but added “Upon reviewing my attorney I 1120C.” The officer explained that since Capanerridley had invoked her right to speak with an attorney, he could not question her. Capanerridley reportedly said she would answer questions if the officer did not arrest her. The officer explained that was not possible and informed Capanerridley she was under arrest.

“As I transported her to the Gwinnett County Jail, Ms. Capanerridley talked out loud to me and herself almost constantly,” the officer wrote in the arrest report. “[Capanerridley] repeated several times ‘I am a mother of two and I just wanted to keep my kids safe from drugs. I know numerous narcotics division officers. I have called the hotline seven times to help police … I just wanted them to do something about the kids doing drugs, and yes I told him I was an undercover officer, so he would actually do something’.”

When the officer did not respond, Capanerridley reportedly said, “God bless you and your family. You know this isn’t right.”

Capanerridley was booked into the jail on a charge of impersonating a police officer. She was released the following day on a $1,300 bond.

Other recent incidents investigated by the Gwinnett County Police Department include:  

Oct. 29

• Theft by taking in the 2700 block of Preston Ridge Lane.

Oct. 28

• Entering auto in the 1200 block of Bramlett Oak Court.
• Simple assault in the 400 block of Dacula Road.

Oct. 27

• Entering auto in the 1700 block of Lake Heights Circle.

Oct. 26

• Burglary in the 2100 block of Spruce Lake Drive.
• Robbery in the 200 block of Dacula Road.
• Battery in the 1400 block of Jernigan Bluff.
• Entering auto in the 3300 block of Ridgemill Circle.
• Simple assault in the 2800 block of Meridian Drive.
• Theft by taking in the 2200 block of New Hope Road.
• Theft by shoplifting in the 2600 block of Braselton Highway.
• Simple assault in the 2000 block of Teron Trace.

Oct. 25

• Burglary in the 1000 block of Chapel Hill Drive.
• Burglary in the 1800 block of Alcovy Bluff Way.

Oct. 24

• Simple assault in the 3100 block of Mary Todd Lane.
• Simple assault in the 2700 block of Sam Calvin Drive.
• Theft by taking in the 1500 block of Water Springs Way.

Oct. 23

• Disorderly conduct near the intersection of Bakers Mill Road and Walkers Ridge Road.
• Disorderly conduct in the 3700 block of Wynter Frost Walk.
• Simple assault in the 400 block of Rabbit Hill Road.

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