TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

73-year-old charged with impersonating an officer

ADVERTISEMENT

Hernando Todau

Published: April 8, 2009

James Carrasquillo

SPRING HILL - A 73-year-old man was arrested Tuesday on charges he grabbed a teenager by the shirt and flashed a phony law enforcement badge.

Deputies were called to the 6700 block of Pinehurst Drive around 10:40 a.m. to investigate a battery complaint, which was made by James Carrasquillo. Carrasquillo alleged he was pushed in the face by Robert Emrick.

Emrick acknowledged he pushed Carrasquillo, but only because Carrasquillo was lifting up his stepson by his clothing. The stepson, 18-year-old Steven DeFrancesco, told the deputy the ruckus started when Carrasquillo approached him at Pioneer Skate Park.

Carrasquillo asked him if he knew someone who was supposedly a "gang banger." The teenager replied, "I don't know what you're talking about," which prompted Carrasquillo to grab him by the shirt and produce a badge, according to a report.

Carrasquillo denied he identified himself as a "cop," and said the badge was just meant to be a "scare tactic," a report states. A gun and a concealed weapons permit were removed from Carrasquillo's car following his arrest on a charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT