In Newark a man was indicted on five charges of impersonating a police officer, and also carrying a fake handgun. In May he was found wearing a police uniform and carrying a fake handgun. Jaami Brantley a 36 year city resident was approached by Essex County Sheriff s officers and when asked which precinct he belonged to he became flustered and upset and fled from the officers. He also He left a duffle bag with the Sheriff s officers. Originally he told the police officers he was part of the Newark Police Department, before fleeing and hiding under someone s deck. Essex County Sheriffs Officer Armando Fontoura said “He was in the process of removing his police uniform and attempting to hide what turned out to be an imitation handgun which was similar in look to an actual police service weapon,” Which he said in a news release about the arrest.
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:28-8 which is impersonating a public servant or law enforcement officer, and it is a crime of the 4th degree. It involves pretending to hold a position in the public service with the purpose to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense. If found guilty of a crime of the 4th degree a defendant is looking at up to 18 months in New Jersey State Prison.
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4e which is possession of an imitation firearm. It is a crime of the 4th degree. Any person who has in his possession an imitation firearm under circumstances that would lead an observer to reasonably believe that it is possessed for an unlawful purpose is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.” Any type of gun charge in the state of New Jersey is a very serious offense, due to the highly strict nature of New Jerseys gun laws.
More information on the indictment as well as the charges can be found here
