Fake police officer arrested in Engativá with Public Force clothing
A 27-year-old man was detained in Engativá after impersonating a uniformed police officer to access citizens' belongings.
Man impersonated police officers in Engativá to stop pedestrians
A 27-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday in the district of Engativá, north of Bogotá, after residents of the Marandú neighbourhood alerted the Emergency Line 123 about the presence of a suspected fake police officer, according to bogota.gov.co.
The suspect was approaching people in public spaces whilst wearing police clothing and insignia, in order to carry out purported procedures and access their wallets and other valuable items.
The flight towards the canal and discovery of the uniforms
Officers from the Joboque Police Station (CAI), in the Engativá district, responded immediately to the report. Upon arriving at the scene, they observed that the man, upon noticing the police presence, ran towards a water channel and attempted to hide the clothing and insignia he was wearing, which drew the officers' attention.
During the search, the police found that the man was carrying police clothing and insignia from the National Police, a public transport armband and a military booklet with which he intended to verify his status as an active member of the institution. The detainee told the officers that he worked as a police auxiliary at a station.
Verification disproves his police identity
The radio dispatch confirmed that the man did not belong to the National Police nor was he listed as active in any of its departments.
"The man was arrested and placed at the disposal of the Attorney General's Office for the alleged crime of unlawful use of uniforms and insignia of exclusive use of the Public Force," stated Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lozano, commander of the Engativá Police Station of the Bogotá Police.
Arrest under the Bogotá Walk Safe strategy
The apprehension was carried out within the comprehensive security strategy called Bogotá Camine Segura, which the Metropolitan Police of Bogotá maintains active in different districts of the city. The authorities highlighted the role of the Marandú neighbourhood community, whose report proved decisive in the identification and arrest of the suspect.
Source: Google News CO — Bogotá