Man Arrested For Impersonating A Police Officer Following Shoplifting Incident

PARAMUS, NJ - A man was charged with impersonating a police officer and shoplifting Saturday after he allegedly assaulted a security guard at the Garden State Plaza, police said.

Timothy M. Lynch 37, of North Brunswick, was being questioned by Abercrombie & Fitch store security officers Saturday for allegedly shoplifting a $54 bottle of cologne, said Paramus Deputy Police Chief Robert M. Guidetti.

While being questioned, Lynch allegedly showed a security guard a Pennsylvania police badge; Lynch said he was a police officer and that that security guard could "not get into trouble for something like this."

Lynch asked to use the bathroom and, while walking there, assaulted the security guard and ran out of the emergency exit into the parking lot, Guidetti said. The security guard attempted to apprehend Lynch but he allegedly assaulted her and refused to be taken into custody, the deputy chief said.

Lynch was arrested while trying to cross Route 4, Guidetti said.

Lynch was remanded to the Bergen County Jail on $500 bail. He is scheduled to appaer in court March 16.

Timothy M. Lynch, 37/Paramus Police Department