BRICK – Township Police charged and arrested township resident Kenneth Murphy, 56, on Feb. 1 for impersonating an officer following two complaints by township residents.
Police responded to a Wawa located at 595 Brick Blvd. in response to a reported suspicious incident involving a female victim who reported that a white male driving a dark silver pickup truck followed her into the Wawa parking lot and activated blue and red emergency lights.
The male subject approached her and said he was an off-duty police officer. Suspecting that the driver of the pickup was impersonating an officer, the victim went inside the Wawa and advised the staff. He remained around the victim’s parked vehicle, speaking into what appeared to be a small two-way radio.
The woman exited the store at which time the male advised her that he was a retired police officer and that he was calling for backup. She responded that she would call 9-1-1, at which point the suspect got back into the pickup and drove away. The story circulated on social media which led to the discovery of a second victim.
On the same day, the victim was approached by the suspect who pulled the victim over on Barberry Lane in Brick. Police continued to follow leads provided by both victims which subsequently resulted in the identification and arrest of Murphy.
Police officers Scott Smith, Ryan Wynn, Carissa Pagnotta and Sgt. Jason Shepherd responded to the suspect’s residence where Murphy was taken into custody and charged with two counts of impersonating a police officer.
Murphy’s pickup was also seized for having been used in the crime.
Anyone who was approached in this manner and who has not yet contacted authorities is asked to call Detective Bob Shepherd at 732-262-1121.
