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PEEKSKILL, N.Y. A Verplanck man is facing felony charges after trying to get out of a ticket by impersonating a state trooper last week, police said.
Helder Desa, 28, was pulled over on Nelson Avenue at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 due to a loud muffler on his vehicle. When approached by Police Officer Chatoya Woodland he displayed a New York State Police shield (badge) and identified himself as a police officer.
However, all officers are required to ask for further identification, according to Peekskill Police Spokesman Lt. Eric Johansen.
When an individual identifies themselves as a police officer by producing a shield they also need to produce identification to go along with that shield, Johansen said. Our officer asked him to produce his credentials and when he could not it grew more suspicious.
New York State Police Investigators were called in to assist with the investigation and Desa was found to not be police officer and had obtained the badge from a company on the Internet.
Desa was charged with first-degree criminal impersonation, a class E felony. He was released on $750 bail and is due to appear in city court on Feb. 16.
Other news in the Peekskill Police blotter:
- Kevin Fox, 37, of Peekskill was arrested on Feb. 1 at 1:35 a.m. and charged with felony driving while intoxicated and first-degree unlicensed automobile operation, a class E felony, on the 1100 block of Main Street by Police Officer Anthony Nappi. A subsequent investigation revealed he was operating while intoxicated and he was subsequently arrested. Fox had a previous DWI conviction in the past 10 years and had been operating with a suspended license. He refused to submit to a chemical test and was held for arraignment in city court without bail.
- Lianne Ramos, 24, of Cortlandt Manor was arrested on Feb.1 at 11:32 p.m. and charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, on North Division Street by Police Officer Mike Lawrence. Officers found she was intoxicated after she failed several field sobriety tests. Ramos refused to submit to a chemical test and was held for arraignment in city court.
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