APOPKA, Fla. -- The owner of a private security firm is accused of letting the power get to his head and telling people he is an Orange County deputy.

Investigators said Rickey Heath told some people he was a police chief, flashed dozens of different badges to people and drove a homemade patrol car.

Heath has several guards working for his company, Crime Prevention Enforcement, to help provide security for as many as five area businesses, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

The investigation began after one of Heath's former employees went to authorities. He said Heath told him he did not need a license to run the firm because he was a reserve Orange County deputy. The man said he quit because he did not believe Heath could operate without a license.

An investigation revealed that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services had revoked Heath's security license.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement records showed that Heath was a police officer in Apopka and Mount Dora for a combined 11 years until 1989, but he is no longer an officer of deputy. Authorities said no records indicated Heath had ever worked for the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said Heath carried a weapon, despite his permit being expired, and he and his employee's wore uniforms that resembled those of Orange County deputies.

Heath was arrested two weeks ago on charges he was running a security business without a license, but the Sheriff's Office arrested him Tuesday on charges he impersonated an officer.