Man Wearing Fake Police Badge Caught Smoking Weed: Cops

RONKONKOMA, NY - A Kings Park man was caught smoking marijuana while wearing a fake police badge in the parking lot of a Ronkonkoma hotel on Thursday night, according to Suffolk Police.

At about 7:55 p.m., two plain clothes officers saw 43-year-old Justin Conte, sitting in a silver 2014 Hyundai Tucson in the back parking lot of the Clarion Hotel on 18-45 Veterans Memorial Highway, police said.

When the officers noticed smoke and approached the car to investigate, police said.

They smelled marijuana and noticed he was wearing a police badge, police said.

They interviewed Conte, who admitted the badge was fake, police said. The officers also found an expandable baton and a fake police chief placard inside the car in plain view, police said.

Conte was arrested and brought to the precinct, police said.

Police discovered he had a valid pistol permit with three weapons, police said.

Officers went to safeguard the weapons at his house, where they found three illegal guns including two AR-15 rifles and a 38-caliber revolver, police said.

Numerous other types of police equipment were also found.

Conte was charged with first degree criminal impersonation, fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, fifth degree criminal possession of marijuana, criminal possession of a firearm and two counts of third degree criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone who has additional information is asked to contact the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.