Impersonating a Public Servant: A Serious Offense
The safety director at Gateway Community Church in Webster is facing a felony charge of impersonating a public servant after allegedly posing as an ICE agent to pressure a woman for money.
Harris County District Clerk filings accuse Donald Doolittle of posing as an ICE agent and “coercing” an individual to pay him or face deportation. He was arrested by the Houston Police Department on Friday, after the agency was approached by a massage-parlor operator who reported that a man claiming to be with ICE visited her the previous day.
HPD said Doolittle received a massage and tried to pay for services with a credit card, but he was told that wasn’t accepted as a payment method. In response, he reportedly displayed a card that said “ICE” on it and, instead, demanded money.
Court filings identify the victim as Rita Dumont Mayans.
Doolittle has worked part-time at Gateway for 10 years, according to an affidavit. Internet archives show he was listed on the church’s website as recently as May alongside other staff members, but the website currently only highlights its pastors.
Reaction from the Church and Authorities
The church and Doolittle’s lawyers did not respond to a request for comment. During Sunday service, the church acknowledged the situation involving Doolittle and said it wouldn’t comment further.
“We are committed to handling this situation with wisdom, compassion and integrity,” said lead pastor Jason Smith, addressing Gateway congregants. “We ask you to refrain from speculation or public conversation and to keep everyone involved in your prayers.”
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that anyone who encounters someone they believe is impersonating an immigration officer should contact law enforcement, then the ICE tip line.
Consequences of Impersonating a Public Servant
“Anyone caught impersonating a federal immigration agent will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “Impersonating a federal immigration officer endangers public safety and erodes trust in law enforcement.”
The incident comes as conversations about unidentified ICE agents are growing, with immigration advocates and public safety experts raising concerns about the reasons why law enforcement officers should always identify themselves when interacting with the public.
“There must be a clear way for people to confirm that those exercising authority are, in fact, legitimate law enforcement officers,” said Scott Mourtgos, an assistant professor of criminology at the University of South Carolina. “And this isn’t just for public accountability; it’s also critical for officer safety.”
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