Coram man impersonates police officer, cops say
A Coram man pretending to be a police officer pulled over a vehicle on a fake traffic stop before he was arrested by a real police officer Saturday evening, Suffolk County police said.
Police said Sunday that Thomas O'Connor, 42, was driving a gray 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee equipped with red and white flashing lights on the dashboard when he pulled over a vehicle on Mount Sinai Coram Road near West Denis Lane in Coram shortly before 8:30 p.m.
Police Officer John Bokinz spotted the faux traffic stop while on patrol and went to investigate, police said.
Bokinz arrested O'Connor, who was wearing a black shirt with "Police K9 Unit" in white letters, a gold Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shield on a chain around his neck, and a black police belt with a black pellet gun, flashlight, handcuffs and a police scanner, police said.
O'Connor was charged with second-degree criminal impersonation of a public servant, unauthorized use of colored lights on a vehicle and unauthorized use of a police receiver.
At his arraignment Sunday at First District Court in Central Islip, O'Connor was ordered held on $5,000 cash bail or $30,000 bond, according to online court records. He is due back in court on Wednesday.
Police said anyone who thinks they might have had an encounter with O'Connor may call the Sixth Precinct Crime Control Unit at 631-854-8627 or 631-854-8600.
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