Suspect In NYPD Impersonation Robberies Arrested
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD says a man that had allegedly been posing as one of their own in a Brooklyn robbery spree is in custody.
Arcelay Camilo, 36, has been going to businesses across the borough, flashing a shirt with an NYPD logo on it and identifying himself as a police officer before demanding money from his victims, police said.
He was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, according to police.
A new surveillance image released earlier Tuesday allegedly showed him trying to rob a Bensonhurst deli at 6318 18th Ave. around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The suspect told the 26-year-old clerk behind the counter that he was a police officer inspecting for drugs and fake cigarettes, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.
Police said he also demanded the clerk turn over the cash inside of the register.
"He came inside, said, 'NYPD, I wanna check that you had some drugs," clerk Abdul Rahman told CBS2's Janelle Burrell.
Rahman said at first, he took the suspect at his word and soon found the man behind the counter.
"I forget to tell him let me see your proof, your ID," he said. "And then he said tell your friend to come to count the money."
"All he did was keep his hand around the waist. He pretended he had a gun to scare us off," said witness Avdulmalik Alomari.
When the employee began asking questions and threatening to call 911, the suspect took off. No one was hurt.
Investigators say it was the fifth time the suspect struck this month.
On Saturday, the suspect -- claiming to be a cop -- told Mohamed Al-Teshee he was inspecting the store's cigarette tax stamps, and took $2,500 in cash.
"I say, show me your ID, and he say no!," Al-Teshee said speaking exclusively with CBS2's Jessica Borg.
Al-Teshee ran after him to his getaway car, driven by someone else.
"I fight with him to 15th Street, and eh threw me outside, as I get hurt," he said.
Lita Khan is one of the latest victims. She and her husband have owned Paskey Associate Grocery on 86th Street, also in Bensonhurst, for nearly 20 years.
Around noon Monday, Khan said a man claimed he was an officer and showed her a badge before ordering her to count the money in two registers and then turn it over.
"He said, 'I came to check your cigarette stamps.' I said, 'OK, no problem, OK go ahead' because we have to let him in because he showed me ID," said Khan.
He told her he was going to the precinct and would be back within 10 minutes.
"So I was watching -- 10 minutes, 15 minutes and then when 20 minutes, then I realize there's something wrong," Khan said.
On Thursday, a Brooklyn laundromat was robbed, with the suspect taking off with $300 in cash, a wallet and cigarettes, police said.
On Sunday, a suspect stole from a deli.
