Man held in Florida for pretending to be cop

June 5, 2012 4:08 am

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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Police in Florida arrested an Ambridge man for impersonating a Pennsylvania State Police officer.

Matthew Scott Depedro, 38, was arrested Friday for driving around a mobile home park in Punta Gorda, Fla., in a Ford Crown Victoria, flashing police lights, showing a Pennsylvania state trooper badge, and pulling people over, state police in Beaver County said Monday.

When sheriff's deputies from Charlotte County, Fla., stopped the man, he claimed to be a Pennsylvania state trooper stationed in Beaver County. Sheriff's deputies contacted Pennsylvania State Police and determined that Mr. Depedro was not a police officer.

Authorities in Florida said the badge was a fake.

Mr. Depedro was charged with impersonating law enforcement, unlawful use of a police badge and unlawful use of police lights, according to the Charlotte County Jail. He was released on $5,000 bond.


First Published June 5, 2012 12:00 am

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