BATON ROUGE - An employee of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System was arrested for false personation of a police officer after apprehending a potential burglary suspect and allegedly striking him in the head with a firearm, the Baton Rouge Police Department said.

BRPD said James Bell Jr., 51, apprehended a potential burglary suspect who he said was attempting to steal wiring from Zion Charter School on 5800 Packard Street on the night of September 6. Bell identified himself as a reserve law enforcement officer and detained the suspect at gunpoint.

Detectives believe Bell struck the suspect while apprehending him, and they learned Bell is not an active reserve officer.

Body camera video from BRPD shows Bell wearing a badge and identifying himself as a reserve officer with the Clinton Police Department. According to Clinton Police, no one by Bell's name works at the department as a reserve officer, but they did know of him.

While he is reportedly not a reserve police officer, he does serve as the Administrative Director of Facilities for East Baton Rouge Parish Schools.

The theft suspect told police that he did not enter the school but said he did intend to steal wires and fans from outside the property. The suspect was also injured in the incident and later brought to Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center. The suspect also identified Bell as the person that detained him, police said.

Bell has been booked in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and placed on administrative leave pending a human resources investigation, EBRPSS officials said. He was also booked for aggravated battery.