Man Pretending To Be Cop Stopped Woman Driver: Sheriff

PUTNAM VALLEY, NY — A Putnam Valley man was accused of pretending to be a police officer after an unsettling incident on Oscawana Lake Road in February, Putnam County Sheriff Robert L. Langley, Jr. reports.

At 1:40 a.m. Feb. 16, the Putnam County Sheriff's Department received a report from a woman who said her vehicle was pulled over on Oscawana Lake Road by a man in a GMC vehicle that had flashing blue lights activated. The man approached the driver, claiming that he worked with the Peekskill Police Department and that he had pulled her over because she crossed the double line.

She was suspicious and asked him for identification. He refused to produce any and subsequently left the area.

After an investigation, at about 11:35 p.m., Investigator Paul Piazza stopped a vehicle matching the description on Oscawana Lake Road. Piazza concluded the operator of the truck was the person who pulled over the car earlier that day.

He arrested 25-year- old Joseph A. Maffettone, of Putnam Valley, and charged him with Criminal Impersonation in the First Degree, a felony. He was released and is due in Putnam Valley Justice Court on a future date.

If anyone has information or believes they had been stopped by Maffettone, please call Investigator Piazza at 845 225-8060.