Brick Man Impersonated Cop, Stole $5K From Nightclub Patron, Police Say

A Brick Township man is facing charges of theft and impersonating a police officer after he allegedly pulled over a driver and stole $5,000 in cash from the person’s car, police said Thursday.

But police are investigating Michael Vence, 40, of Cedar Bridge Avenue, further in connection with an unlicensed taxi service he is accused of operating that targeted patrons of The Mansion nightclub in the Brick Plaza shopping center, Brick Sgt. Larry Petrola said.

Petrola said police responded to the the nightclub on July 14 for a report of a robbery and learned that a man, later identified as Vence, had pulled alongside a vehicle stopped at a traffic light on Cedar Bridge Avenue then displayed what appeared to be a law enforcement badge and stated he was a police officer.

Vence ordered the driver to pull over, Petrola said, and the driver complied, believing Vence was a law enforcement officer. Vence ordered the driver out of the vehicle and then searched the victim‘s car, removing approximately $5,000 in cash from the victim’s clothing, Petrola said.

Vence then told the man to return to his vehicle, and fled in an unknown direction, he said.

As Brick Detective Daniel Waleski began looking into the incident, he learned Vence was possibly operating an unlicensed taxi service that catered to patrons of The Mansion, Petrola said.

Vence was made aware that police were looking to speak with him in reference to this robbery, and he was arrested Tuesday at police headquarters and charged with impersonating a police officer and theft. He was able to post bail of $20,000, no 10 percent option, and was released pending court, he said.

Petrola said the investigation is continuing, and police are looking into the possibility that Vence may have victimized other patrons of The Mansion by running an unauthorized taxi cab company. He said police released Vence’s photo as he may not have used his real name when dealing with patrons of the Mansion.

Additional charges are pending. If you have any information regarding this investigation please contact Waleski in the Detective Bureau at 732-262-1170, Petrola said.