A Baltimore man was charged with impersonating a police officer after being pulled over by Maryland State Police in Prince George's County. The incident happened Sunday evening when troopers conducted a traffic stop for expired registration tags. Antonieo Cole, 60, is facing charges of impersonating an officer and illegal ammunition possession, according to Maryland State Police.
The arrest occurred around 5:20 p.m. on Route 50 near Church Road in Bowie. In the vehicle, troopers discovered what appeared to be police gear—a bulletproof vest with "POLICE" emblazoned across it, a baton, handcuffs, pepper spray, and loaded magazines on a duty belt. Perhaps most disconcertingly, they found a handgun replica, which turned out to be a BB gun. The investigation quickly unraveled that Cole was, in fact, not an officer but a security guard.
The charged individual, Cole, carried a fake badge and police identification. Despite his claims of being a security guard, his possession of a handgun, even a replica, alongside the law-enforcement paraphernalia, led to his arrest. As it was later confirmed, Cole is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or even ammunition. After being processed at the College Park Barrack, he was transported to the Prince George's County Department of Corrections.
Cole, who was released on $2,000 bail, is now awaiting trial on the misdemeanor charges brought against him.
