Fake Cop Busted By Real One On Long Island Expressway: Police

BRENTWOOD, NY — A Queens man impersonating a law enforcement officer on the Long Island Expressway was arrested on Tuesday in Brentwood, police said.

Police said Fernando Garnecho, 55, of Elmhurst, was caught driving a car with flashing lights while wearing a U.S. Department of Homeland Security jacket and carrying a replica gun in Brentwood.

At about 12:30 p.m., a Canine Section officer was driving a marked police cruiser on the eastbound LIE near Exit 53, when he saw a 2019 Audi A8 with "emergency blue and red lights activated in the windshield, traveling eastbound on the shoulder of the HOV lane," police said.

When the officer initiated a traffic stop of the Audi, Garnecho "portrayed himself to the officer" as a Homeland Security agent, police said. He was wearing "a black Homeland Security jacket with law enforcement insignia patches and the letters ICE on the front and back," police said, adding that he "had a black replica handgun in a leather holster on the passenger seat."

Garnecho also had "a placard, and other law enforcement identifiers, which appeared to be fabricated," police said, adding that he does not work for Homeland Security.

Garnecho was charged with first-degree criminal impersonation, and he was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Wednesday.

Detectives are asking anyone with information, or who believes they may have been victimized by Garnecho, to contact the 4th Squad at 631-854-8443.