Man Charged With Impersonating Waltham Police Officer: Newton PD

NEWTON, MA — A 62 year-old Newton man was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer after someone confronted him about a pile of leaves.

A couple was walking along the sidewalk near the corner of Montrose Street and Waverly Avenue on Veteran's Day when they came upon an area covered with leaves. The woman decided to walk around them. While she was avoiding the leaves, she slipped off the curb and fell, according to a police report.

The man she was with went over to Angelo Leporini, of Newton Centre, who was standing nearby, to explain what had just happened, and asked if Leporini could clean up the leaves.

But in response, the couple told police later, Leporini got angry and told them he hadn't put the leaves there. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a Waltham Police badge and held it out for the man to see.

The two exchanged words, according to the police report, and Leporini put the badge back in his pocket and started to walk away. The couple attempted to get the man's name, but he did not answer them, according to the report.

The two decided to call police, who found Leporini and asked him if he had introduced himself as an officer and displayed a police badge. At this, police said Leporini became agitated and stepped out into the street and started to "flail his arms." The police report said at least one car had to avoid hitting him in the road, and several passers by crossed to the other street to avoid him.

Eventually he calmed down and gave the officer the badge. While the Newton officer called dispatch to run the man's name through the police system, the officer said he became agitated again and stepped out into the street. Police arrested him and charged him with use of a police badge without authority and disturbing the peace in addition to impersonating an officer.

State law says anyone found guilty of impersonating an officer faces a fine up up to $400 and a year in jail. .

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).