Police Say An Impersonator Stole Gun from NYPD
NEW YORK (WCBS 880/AP) - Police say a man has been arrested on charges he impersonated a fire marshal, talked his way into a police station, and made off with possibly three weapons.
The man, Ronald DeShields, is being held at Rikers Island and it wasn't clear if he had an attorney.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly says DeShields took at least one police weapon from the 105th Precinct in Queens on Jan. 15.
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WCBS 880 Reporter Monica Miller gets details from Commissioner Kelly.
WCBS 880 Reporter Monica Miller reports DeShields was so convincing, he fooled members of the NYPD at two stations to come in and speak with detectives and then allegedly stole three revolvers from secure lockers.
"He returned a gun to the 90th precinct in a buy back program, received a hundred dollars for it," said Kelly.
He was charged with possessing stolen property. Police say he was also suspected of taking a second weapon missing from the same precinct; that gun has not been located.
"Another gun is missing, and he made a proposal during the investigation that he could obtain that other gun," said Kelly.
Kelly says DeShields has a long history as a convincing law enforcement imposter.
