Cop Impersonators' South Jersey Robbery Spree Thwarted: Prosecutor

SOUTH JERSEY — Two people who impersonated police as they conducted robberies throughout South Jersey have been apprehended, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office (CCPO).

Shanndoah Gray and Michael Ficara showed badges and identified themselves as officers when they approached victims — some of whom they robbed — authorities said. Gray, 51, was arrested Wednesday in Lindenwold, where he lives. Ficara, 39, of Mount Royal, is in Salem County Jail on unrelated charges.

The incidents occurred from Sept. 19-30 in Gloucester Township, Winslow Township, Washington Township, Deptford and Lindenwold, according to the CCPO.

Investigators obtained multiple surveillance videos from Washington Township that helped identify the suspects. Footage of a Sept. 28 burglary showed them in a red Ford Taurus, which detectives later learned belonged to Ficara, the CCPO said. Township police also obtained a video of the suspects trying to use a stolen credit card in a local grocery store, officials said.

Last week, police in Winslow Township and Lindenwold described incidents involving the two suspects, who had not yet been identified. Read more: Cop Impersonators In Camden County Robbed Victim: Police

Here's what happened during each incident, according to the CCPO:

Gloucester Township

At about 9 p.m. Sept. 19, the suspects — later identified as Gray and Ficara — used a red sedan to pull over a victim on Little Gloucester Road. The pair approached the victim and identified themselves as officers. One of the suspects grabbed the victim by the shirt and stole cash from him.

Winslow

The duo tried to stop a vehicle at about 4:45 a.m. Sept. 28 on Waterford Road and Route 73. The victim pulled over, and the suspects approached him and identified themselves as police.

Gray and Ficara claimed the victim was a robbery suspect. The victim claimed he wasn't comfortable and requested a marked unit show up. As a result, the suspects fled the area.

Washington Township

Just after 9 p.m. that same day, Gray and Ficara tried to stop an occupied vehicle parked behind the Kohl's Plaza. The suspects flashed their high beams, yelled at the victims to turn off their car and displayed a badge.

The victims drove away. Shortly thereafter, Gray and Ficara burglarized a nearby, unoccupied vehicle and stole a wallet with credit cards inside.

Deptford

At about 10:45 p.m. that night, Deptford police responded to a report of two suspects approaching an occupied vehicle at Almonesson Creek Park. The suspects had identified themselves as officers and attempted to question the driver.

The victim didn't believe the suspects, so they called 911 and drove out of the park.

Lindenwold

Officers responded to a report of possible law-enforcement impersonators at about 9:45 p.m. Sept. 30 at the 700 block of E Elm Avenue. Upon arrival, Lindenwold police found two victims who reported they were approached by two male suspects.

The suspects, dressed as plain-clothes officers, searched the victims and stole money from them. When one of the victims confronted them, one suspect displayed a small handgun, which turned out to be an imitation firearm.

Charges

Each incident yielded the following charges for Gray and Ficara (one count each unless otherwise noted:

• Gloucester Township: second-degree robbery and fourth-degree impersonating a law enforcement officer.
• Winslow: second-degree robbery and fourth-degree impersonating a law enforcement officer.
• Washington Township: third-degree burglary, third-degree theft of an access device (debit card), third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards, fourth-degree impersonating a law enforcement officer, and fourth-degree credit card theft.
• Deptford: fourth-degree impersonating a law enforcement officer and fourth-degree harassment.
• Lindenwold: second-degree robbery (two counts), fourth-degree impersonating a law enforcement officer, and fourth-degree possession of an imitation firearm.