Essex County police arrested a Newark NJ man who was allegedly carrying an imitation handgun and impersonating a Newark police officer.
The 36-year-old suspect is accused of wearing a full police uniform while he walked near Heller Parkway and Highland Avenue in Newark, NJ.
According to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, police officers observed the suspect walking on the street sometime around 11 a.m. The officers spoke with the suspect and asked him several questions. The suspect reportedly said that he was a member of the Newark police force. However, he became “flustered” when the officers asked him what precinct he belonged to.
At some point, the suspect reportedly became frightened and tried to run from the scene. The officers chased the suspect and eventually caught him when he attempted to hide under the deck of a residence located on Highland Avenue.
Authorities said that when police found the suspect, he was trying to take off the police uniform and hide an imitation gun.
Police also found a duffel bag that the suspect allegedly tossed to the ground prior to running. The bag reportedly contained several incriminating items, including a holster, a gun belt, a police radio scanner, a fake police ID card, and a summons book.
After finding the suspect, police arrested him without further incident. He was charged with several crimes, including unlawful possession of a weapon, impersonating a police officer, and resisting arrest.
If the suspect is convicted on the most serious criminal charges, he could face severe penalties because he reportedly has a prior criminal record. According to judicial records, the suspect faced charges for illegal handgun possession and impersonating an officer in March 2013. Additionally, he was reportedly convicted of assault roughly a decade ago.
After being placed under arrest and processed in the most recent case, the suspect was transported to the Essex County Jail in Newark, New Jersey. He was being held at the correctional facility on a $75,000 cash bond.
For further information about this case, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Man Arrested Wearing Newark Police Uniform, Carrying Fake Gun, Authorities Say.”
