Liz Rogers charged with impersonating officer

UPDATE: Mahogany's owner Liz Rogers was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer Friday morning.

The arrest was made at 11:31 a.m. at the West Chester Police Department on Beckett Road.

The charges state that Rogers identified herself as a police officer when Justin Ohmart attempted to repossess her vehicle at a gas station on Tuesday.

The arrest and charges come one day after Rogers' attorney, Robert Croskery Jr., denied she impersonated a police officer, although Rogers did admit to having a run in with a man trying to repossess her car.

EARLIER: Mahogany's owner Liz Rogers is under investigation by West Chester Police for impersonating a police officer after a man who tried to repossess her Mercedes filed a complaint against her.

Rogers admits she had a run in with a man trying to repossess her car, but denies she impersonated a police officer. In fact, she says the man told her if she didn't give him the car he would file a false accusation that she impersonated a police officer, according to her attorney, Robert Croskery Jr.

"This was a plot to take advantage of her name recognition and defame her," Croskery said. "She has not been charged. She strongly doubts she will be charged. And she condemns this for what it is, a blatant attempt to capitalize on her name recognition and sabotage her business for impure motives."

Croskery said Rogers' car is paid off.

West Chester police released the incident report, but it does not name Rogers.

West Chester Police Chief Joel Herzog told The Enquirer Thursday his department is actively investigating a woman who claimed to be a police officer to a man trying to repossess her car Tuesday morning. Herzog says that since the incident is under police investigation his department will not release the female suspect's name "until we are at the point where we may be ready to file charges."

The incident happened Tuesday morning, the same day the City of Cincinnati cut a highly criticized deal with Rogers to forgive nearly two-thirds of the $300,000 loan from taxpayers and agreed not seek repayment of a $684,000 grant.

The money was used to start Mahogany's at The Banks, which closed last September after Rogers fell behind on loan and rent payments.

Justin Ohmart reported on Tuesday that he had a run in with Rogers a gas station at 7175 Liberty Way at the corner of the Cincinnati-Dayton Road intersection along the northern border of the Butler County township.

"The reporting party stated the offender identified herself as a police officer when he attempted to repossess her vehicle," the police report narrative said.

Ohmart declined to comment, saying his boss would not let him.

Herzog said officers were called to the UDF by the repossessing company employee at approximately 7:15 a.m.

When officers arrived, the female suspect had driven off, Herzog said.

Croskery elaborated saying Rogers told him after the repossession man approached her, she gave him her wallet and asked him to follow her home, which he did.

Once there, Rogers' husband, Trent Rogers, got involved. That's when the man threatened to make the false accusation, Croskery said.

"He told Trent he would allege she was impersonating a police officer and apparently did so," Croskery said. "I believe he made a false police report. This is a false and serious allegation."

Herzog says the only charge now that could come from his department's investigation of the incident is of impersonating an officer.

He estimated the investigation will be completed within a week.