Fake Cop Tried To Detain Straphangers, Attacked Man In Subway Station

NEW YORK CITY — A man posing as a NYPD detective inside a Manhattan subway station was nabbed Sunday evening after attempting to detain straphangers and sending one to the hospital, authorities said.

The phony fuzz, who bore an NYPD Detective shield on a chain around his neck, was stopping commuters from entering the transit system and attempting to detain them while identifying himself as a police officer about 6:35 p.m. inside inside of the Whitehall Street – South Ferry subway station on the northbound “R” train platform, police said.

When a 46-year-old subway rider he attempted to stop ignored his orders, the rider was pepper sprayed in the back of the head by the counterfeit cop.

The bogus detective then fled on a northbound “R” train, police said.

The 46-year-old man suffered from burning and swelling to his face as a result of the pepper spraying; he was rushed to NYC Health Hospitals/Bellevue in stable condition where he was treated and released.

The sham officer is described as a man last seen wearing ripped denim shorts, a black and yellow t-shirt, a yellow hat, and an NYPD Detective Shield bearing shield #694 from a chain around his neck.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).