Fake Cop Threatened Downtown Pedestrian, Cops Say

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — Cops are seeking a man who pretended to be one of their own while threatening a pedestrian in the Financial District last month. The phony officer struck up a conversation with the 58-year-old man near the corner of William and Platt streets around 10:15 p.m. May 11, police said.

The unidentified impersonator then threatened violence against the man and told him he was a cop before fleeing north on William Street, police said.

Surveillance video captured the man, who was described as wearing a blue shirt, dark-colored pants and a baseball cap that said "NYC."

Anyone with information about the incident can call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-8477 or 1-888-577-4782 to leave a tip in Spanish. New Yorkers can also text tips to 274637 or submit them online at nypdcrimestoppers.com.

(Lead image: Police say this man pretended to be a cop and threatened a pedestrian in the Financial District last month. Photo and video courtesy of the NYPD)