TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Police Impersonator Robs Bradenton Man

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com

Published: February 10, 2009

A man in his mid-20s pretended to be a police officer and robbed a Bradenton man Friday, Bradenton police say.

The incident occurred Friday at Sheridan Place Apartments, 302 26th Ave. W.

Jowell Rivera heard a knock on his door, and his roommate went to answer it. An unknown man was outside and introduced himself as a police officer/detective, a police report states. The man wanted to come in Rivera's apartment, and when Rivera and his roommate declined, they man pushed open the door and walked in.

Once in the apartment, the fake officer told everyone to get against a wall, turn around and put their hands behind their backs. Rivera said he asked the man to prove he was a law enforcement officer and that "the suspect replied by saying that he would just arrest him and take him to jail and that would prove he was a police officer," the report states.

The man took $200 from Rivera.

Rivera told deputies the man was black, possibly in his mid-20s, and about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, deputies say. He had short hair, no facial hair and was wearing a red and blue striped tie, khaki pants and a blue dress shirt. Rivera, 28, said the man also had left a backpack outside the apartment when he came inside.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT