Woman Fools Police Department Officials With Fake Sign Language
Please tell me you didn't cringe the whole time while watching that video! Remember when you'd hear the term "fake it till you make it"? Well I don't think fooling an entire police department was part of the plan. The woman has been identified as Derlyn Roberts, a 53 year old who has served time behind bars for organized fraud. Roberts showed up unannounced to the televised press conference in connection to the Seminole Heights serial killer. A deaf viewer told the Tampa Bay Times that Roberts "waved her arms like she was singing jingle bells." According to police officers in Tampa Florida, they did not request an interpreter. The Police department has opened an investigation to find out what went wrong and how this impostor was able to talk her way into being the "interpreter".
"You’ll probably not be surprised to learn Florida does not require American Sign Language interpreters to be certified, which involves possessing a degree in signing communications and passing a three-part test administered by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, along with continuing education courses." Dan Ruth, Tampa Bay Times.