Tag Archives: police impersonator

Police impersonators sought in failed Arcadia robbery

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ARCADIA >> Police are seeking two men who tried to rob another man while impersonating Arcadia police officers earlier this month.
The crime took place about 6:30 p.m. on March 10, Arcadia police spokesman Tom LeVeque said.
The victim was sitting at a bus stop near Baldwin and Camino Real avenues when a black Ford Crown Victoria, the same type of car often used by police, approached him through a parking lot while illuminating him with its headlight, Arcadia police officials said in a written statement issued Thursday.
“Two subjects got out of the Crown Vic, shining a spotlight from the passenger side at the man,” according to the statement. “The two subjects approached the man telling him they were with Arcadia PD and to stand up.”
Both police impersonators lifted their shirts to display some sort of badge affixed to their waists, police said.
“One subject began to “pat down” the man and removed his wallet and cell phone. The subject looked through the wallet but as an unknown person walked by, the subjects ran back to the Crown Vic, leaving the wallet and phone.”
There was no money inside the wallet to steal, police added.
The would-be robbers were last seen driving west along Huntington Drive.
Police described the counterfeit cops as two Asian men of medium build, with short dark hair, wearing dark clothing and windbreakers. One was 25 to 30 years old, while the other was 19 or 20. They remain at large.
The impersonators told the victim they were armed, though no weapons were seen.
Arcadia police have not received any reports of similar incidents, officials said.
“If our officers are in plain clothes conducting enforcement, they will be readily identifiable, most often wearing marked raid jackets, shirts, or vests, and if not immediately involved with police action, will show their identification,” according to the police statement. “All of our unmarked police vehicles are also equipped with blue-(and)-red emergency lighting.”
Anyone with information can reach Arcadia police at 626-574-5151. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Man escapes police-impersonating kidnappers in Temple City

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TEMPLE CITY >> A man escaped kidnappers posing as police officers after they broke into an apartment, pistol-whipped him and placed him in handcuffs Thursday afternoon, officials said.
Two kidnappers showed up shortly after 3 p.m. at the home where the 32-year-old victim had been staying in the 9000 block of Emperor Avenue, near Rosemead Boulevard along the border between Temple City and the unincorporated county area of East San Gabriel, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Ismael Chavez said.
The men forced their way into the apartment, he said. One of them brandished a black handgun and flashed some type of badge.
Chavez said the intruders told the victim they were police officers and had warrants for his arrest.
When the phony cops tried to handcuff the man, he resisted and one of them struck him in the head with the gun, the lieutenant said.
The attackers then managed to get the man into the handcuffs and lead him outside, Chavez said. As they led him toward a car, he managed to break free from their grasp, slip one of his hands from the handcuffs and run.
Witnesses called 9-1-1 to report seeing a man with handcuffs hanging from his wrist running down the street and yelling for help, Chavez said. The kidnappers fled.
The man was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and released within hours, officials said.
Deputies described the two police impersonators as white men. One stood about 6 feet tall and weighed about 300 pounds. He wore a dark hat. No further description of the second kidnapper was available.
Chavez said the kidnappers used a white, newer-model, BMW 7 Series sedan. A driver was believed to be waiting at the wheel, but no description was available.
The motive in the foiled kidnapping remained under investigation late Thursday, Chavez said. Nothing was stolen during the incident.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Temple Station at 626-285-7171. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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UPDATED: Monterey Park man accused of impersonating police officer outside San Marino High School

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SAN MARINO >> Police Wednesday arrested an 18-year-old Monterey Park man on suspicion of impersonating a police officer and approaching students near San Marino High School, officials said.
Kwannam Magnus Ho was booked on suspicion of impersonating a police officer, San Marino police Detective Sgt. Tim Tebbetts said in a written statement.
Police received a call from officials at San Marino High School about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday reporting that an Asian man between 18 and 21 had identified himself to several students as a police officer, “wearing a handgun and displaying a badge,” Tibbetts said.
“As the suspect was talking to the students, one of them thinking quickly, took out his cell phone and took a picture of the suspect and suspect’s vehicle,” the sergeant said.
Armed with the information provide by the students, police found and arrested Ho without a struggle just before noon Wednesday outside his home in the 1600 block of Loma Verde Street in Monterey park, according to police and Los Angeles County booking records.
“A search of the suspect’s vehicle resulted in the recover of a replica Sig Sauer firearm in the center console, a replica “police” badge and a FBI hat on the dashboard,” Tibbetts said.
Ho had been driving a white Toyota Highlander, Police Chief John Incontro said.
When approaching the students, he told them he was patrolling the area and asked them if they were involved in drug activity, Incontro said.
The investigation into Ho’s actions and motives remained ongoing, he added.
Ho was booked at the Alhambra Police Department jail, where he was being held in lieu of $2,500 bail on a misdemeanor allegation pending his initial court appearance, according to Los Angeles County booking records.
Police were checking with other police agencies to determined whether similar incidents had been reported in other jurisdictions, the chief said.
Anyone who may have had a suspicious encounter with Ho is encouraged to contact Sgt. Tebbetts at 626-300-0722. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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