Brick Man Stole Thousands As Fake Cop, Indictment Says

A Brick Township man accused of impersonating a police officer and then stealing thousands of dollars from people during fake traffic stops has been indicted, according to a report.

The Asbury Park Press report said Michael Vence, 41, was indicted last week.

Vence was arrested in July on charges of robbery and impersonating a police officer in connection with a June incident in which he allegedly 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, police said at the time and the driver complied. Vence ordered the driver out of the vehicle and then searched the victim‘s car, removing cash from the victim’s clothing, police said.

At the time of his July arrest in Brick, police said there was an additional investigation into reports Vence was running an unauthorized taxi company targeting patrons at the Mansion, a nightclub at Brick Plaza. The status of that investigation is unclear.

The Press report said the indictment alleges stole $4,600 in the June incident, and that he additionally stole $640 using the same trick on June 27 in Lakewood, and $670 on Oct. 5 in Lakewood. The Press report said Vence was arrested in October after the victim of the Oct. 5 incident went to Lakewood police headquarters to report what he said was a robbery. That man said he was driving on Cross Street in Lakewood when a car pulled alongside his, and the driver ordered him to pull to the side of the road, police said.

Vence also was indicted on a charge of heroin possession, the Press report said.

Read more here.