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He looked and acted like a cop - - but police say a Charlotte man was impersonating an officer

CMPD seized weapons, a tactical vest, FBI shirts, and other equipment from the accused fake cop's home.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man allegedly impersonating law enforcement in Charlotte has been arrested, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police announced Wednesday. Investigators are trying to locate anyone possibly victimized by the suspect.

Investigators seized weapons, a tactical vest, FBI clothing, a police radio, and other equipment from the man's, according to police. They also found a dark blue Chevrolet Impala that was made to look like an undercover police vehicle outfitted with flashing lights and sirens.

The man had at least two interactions with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers before his arrest.

Around 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 20, officers responding to a crash on East WT Harris Boulevard near Hickory Grove Road encountered him directing traffic. He was wearing a shirt with "Federal Investigator" printed on it, police said. He had parked his Impala with red and blue LED lights at the scene, according to police.

Later in the evening, he approached an off-duty CMPD officer outside the ABC store at 6400 Albemarle Road, according to the search warrant for his residence. He talked to the officer about his previous interactions with CMPD officers at the traffic crash.

At both the crash and outside the ABC Store, he identified himself as an FBI agent from the Columbia, South Carolina field office, according to CMPD and the warrant. He claimed to work in the human trafficking unit and was in Charlotte to visit a friend.

An investigation revealed he did not work for any law enforcement agency. Investigators found a warrant for his arrest out of South Carolina for bank fraud and impersonating a law enforcement officer. He was also prohibited from owning a firearm in South Carolina.

RELATED: Police arrested a Lyft driver suspected of a shooting. A passenger was in the back seat at the time.

Police obtained a search warrant for his residence at Parkland Commons Apartment, which is located on E WT Harris Boulevard near the location of the traffic crash investigation.

Both the Impala, and a dark blue 1998 Honda Civic Jones drove to the ABC store, had South Carolina license plates, according to the search warrant. 

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone who may have been victimized or has information about this investigation or the suspect should contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

More crime news from wcnc.com:

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Police arrested a Lyft driver suspected of a shooting. A passenger was in the back seat at the time.

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