Police: Carrying Beer, Man Says He's a Cop
The following arrest information was supplied by the Hopatcong police department. It does not indicate a conviction.
Carrying a beer and a flashlight, a Hopatcong man told residents he was an undercover cop, police said.
Sgt. Joseph Magrini and Officer James Bianculli responded to the Coolidge Trail area for a report of a man who shined his flashlight into the eyes of two women and told them he was an undercover officer investigating local burglaries around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, police said.
One of the women told police the man—24-year-old Mohamad Chaudhary—said he was part of the night watch and wanted to make sure they were OK, police said.
But the woman told the officers she called police because she knew most of Hopatcong's officers and didn't recognize Chaudhary, police said.
Magrini and Bianculli found Chaudhary nearby, at the corner of Jefferson and Tulane trails, police said. He was still walking with the beer and a flashlight, police said.
Chaudhary was arrested and taken to the Hopatcong police department, where he was charged with impersonating a police officer and harassment, police said.
Police learned Chaudhary also had outstanding warrants for $500 in Elmwood Park and two totaling $348 in Boonton, police said.
Chaudhary was taken to Sussex County jail in lieu of $2,500 bail, police said.
For questions on this report, email brendan@patch.com.
Cap1214
4:56 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I think I saw him about an hour earlier walking down my street, because I noted it was still light out and I was surprised to see someone walking down the street with nothing else in his hands other than a flashlight. It struck me as strange enough that I remembered it.
Rich Smith
5:45 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Seeing that he is an adult (Chronologically) I see no reason that his address and picture cannot be published. We are a small town with mostly good neighbors. We should be made aware of the bad ones. Had the ladies not contacted police, and the police had not found this guy, this story could be much worse.
jazzman
7:56 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
oyeah....that last comment should give him a fair trial
BeachBum
9:56 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
There are some really stupid people in this town, and with nothing better to do with themselves