Nassau Man Arrested After Impersonating A Police Officer: Authorities

FREEPORT, NY — A Long Beach man was arrested Tuesday after impersonating a police detective, authorities said.

According to Nassau County police, First Squad detectives arrested a Long Beach man and charged him with criminal impersonation, after an incident that took place on Tuesday at 7:39 p.m. in Freeport.

According to detectives, officers observed two males and a female in the vicinity of Babylon Turnpike and Colonial Avenue.

As officers approached the group to question their conduct, one of the men and the female left the location, police said.

Officers interviewed the man that remained; during the investigation he was found to be in possession of a City of Long Beach police detective’s shield and identification card, police said.

The man proceeded to confirm his law enforcement employment when asked about it, by the officers, police said.

However, the investigation revealed the man was not employed as a Long Beach detective, and the shield and identification card were determined to be fraudulent, police said.

Ariel Espinal, 35, was placed under arrest and charged with first-degree criminal impersonation; second-degree forgery; and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, police said.

He was slated for arraignment on Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.