Man faces charges, including impersonating an officer

He has a presidential name and carried a badge and gun, but North Charleston police said this man wasn't who he claimed to be and arrested him Wednesday night on several charges, including impersonating a police officer.

William Howard Taft, 65, of North Charleston, is also charged with unlawful carry of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia, a police report stated.

Police were called at 7:47 p.m. about a suspicious car parked on Leesville Street. The report gave this account:

The passenger, identified as Robert Eugene Coardes, 47, of Leesville Street, got out and ran when officers arrived, but they detained him. Officers found two plastic bags containing a white powder when they retraced Coardes' steps.

Taft, the driver, claimed to be a Berkeley County sheriff's deputy, but Berkeley County officials said that wasn't true. Taft said he'd known Coardes for several months and was giving him a ride home. Coardes told officers Taft bought narcotics and the two were going to inject the drugs.

Officers found a hypodermic needle in the console of the car and a scale in the trunk. The scale tested positive for cocaine.

Police arrested Coardes on charges of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine within a half mile of a school.