Man Arrested During Bowie Traffic Stop For Impersonating A Police Officer

BOWIE, MD — A 60-year-old Baltimore man has been arrested after Maryland State Police said he was impersonating a police officer.

Around 5:20 p.m. April 20, troopers from the Maryland State Police College Park Barrack stopped a vehicle with expired registration tags that was heading west on Route 50 near Church Road in Bowie. According to a preliminary investigation, troopers spied several items inside the vehicle resembling law-enforcement gear, including a bulletproof vest labeled “POLICE,” a duty belt with loaded magazines, handcuffs, pepper spray, a baton and a handgun that was later determined to be a BB gun, according to Maryland State Police. They belonged to Antonieo Cole, police said.

He is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, however, MSP said.

An investigation showed that Cole identified himself as a security guard and had a fake police badge and identification with him, according to the MSP. He is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, however, MSP said. Cole was arrested at the scene, processed at the College Park Barrack and taken to the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections. He was released on $2,000 bail, the Maryland State Police stated.

He has been charged with one count of impersonating a police officer and one count of illegal possession of ammunition, both misdemeanors, the MSP reported.