A quiet Friday in the Village of Bronxville reportedly took a strange turn when officers say they found a New York City man pretending to be an NYPD cop, complete with a loaded firearm and a trunk full of police-style gear. The man was charged with weapon possession and criminal impersonation and was arraigned in the Bronxville Justice Court, where officials say he remains in custody. Westchester County public-safety officials are now asking anyone who believes they were stopped or contacted by the suspect to come forward.
What police say they found
According to News 12 Hudson Valley, officers arrested 26-year-old Dylan Gonzalez after tracking down his vehicle. Inside, police say they recovered a loaded gun, several phones, an NYPD-issued radio, a badge, ballistic vests and a fake detective shield, along with other tactical gear. Investigators say that collection of equipment points to an effort to impersonate a real officer. Gonzalez was charged with criminal impersonation and weapon possession, arraigned in village court and kept in jail while the case moves forward.
How local agencies handled the case
The Village of Bronxville Police Department's Detective Division typically leads follow-up investigations in partnership with neighboring police agencies and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, according to the Village of Bronxville. Both the police department and the Justice Court operate out of Village Hall on Pondfield Road, which is where Gonzalez’s arraignment took place. That kind of routine interagency cooperation is now being used to help county detectives determine whether the alleged impersonation led to any other stops or encounters outside Bronxville’s borders.
Charges and next steps in court
News 12 reports that Gonzalez faces criminal impersonation and weapon possession charges and that he was arraigned in the Village of Bronxville Justice Court, where he remains in custody while prosecutors and county investigators continue reviewing the case. The Justice Court handles initial arraignments for village matters before any possible transfer to a county-level court, and Westchester County authorities will decide whether to pursue any additional counts. Officials say the investigation is still active as detectives follow up on leads and conduct interviews.
How the public can help
Westchester County officials are asking anyone who believes they were stopped or approached by the alleged impostor to contact investigators by calling the county tip line at 1-800-898-TIPS (8477) or emailing [email protected], contact points county police have used in prior investigations, according to Patch. Residents who think they might have encountered the suspect are urged to write down the time, location and any details about a vehicle or badge before reaching out. Officials say calls and emails to the tip line can be made confidentially while detectives work to determine whether there were any other encounters tied to the case.
