Chicago Man Has History of Impersonating Cops: Court Records

A Chicago man charged with impersonating a police officer after an arrest in Norridge last year has a history of pretending to be a cop, the Pioneer Press reports.

Ralph Farbman, 59, of the 5300 block of North Cumberland Avenue, is accused of identifying himself as a federal agent and flashing red-and-blue lights, as well as a badge at a woman at a Norridge gas station Dec. 14. He was arrested four days when a gas station employee called police to tell them Farbman, who regularly told people at the business that he was a US Marshall, had returned.

Farbman pleaded not guilty to charges of impersonating a police officer and has been free on electronic monitoring since Dec. 24.

Court records indicate that Farbman was convicted of a similar crime in 2005, according to the Pioneer Press. His records also include charges of forgery, identity theft, domestic batter and assault, the report added.

Farbman told the Pioneer Press after his arrest that he only flashed his lights at the woman to say hello and the he carries a badge because he's a private investigator. Police, however, said Farbman doesn't have a PI license, and he had his concealed carry firearm permit revoked as a convicted felon.

Farbman's next court date is April 26.

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