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Harrisburg police were flagged down by the robbery victims in the area of North 7th and Maclay streets around 4 a.m. on Sunday, May, 8, according to a release by the department.
The victims told police the man claimed to be an officer and was wearing “a police style uniform,” and stole large sums of money from them, as stated in the release.
Using the description of the man and his vehicle, the police located and later identified the fake officer as Rancel Penalver, 47, of Harrisburg.
“Penalver was wearing a uniform, with external body armor, loaded pistol magazines, pepper spray, handcuffs, a badge, and markings on the body armor stating ‘Fugitive Recovery Agent’,” the real police say.
He was also carrying an airsoft pistol made to look like a real pistol, according to the release.
The video later confirmed the robberies, police say.
The police also appear to have recovered the victim’s money as they state “a large amount of money was recovered from Penalver upon his arrest.”
Penalver has been charged with robbery, impersonating a public servant, unlawful restraint, unlawful possession of body armor, and three counts of simple assault, police say and court records confirm.
He has been held in the Dauphin County Prison in lieu of $25,000 of bail, court records show.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Sonya McKnight at 9:30 a.m. May 23, according to court documents.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Harrisburg Police, at 717-558-6900.
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