“Kid Cop” Arrested for Posing as a Police Officer

 Posted on August 07, 2013 in Criminal Defense

Hearing about people running away from the police or trying to elude the police has become commonplace in today’s headlines. However, according to the Chicago Tribune, Vincent Richardson wanted nothing more than to be the police himself.

He first made headlines a little over four years ago when he passed himself off as a law enforcement officer at the age of 14. He showed up at the police station as if he was reporting to work and he went on patrol with another officer for over 5 hours before he was busted and his civilian status was revealed.

This time, at the age of 19, he walked into a uniform store and identified himself as a police officer that worked in the Englewood neighborhood. He presented his driver’s license and told the clerk that he wanted to try on some cargo shorts as well as checking out some utility belts. When Richardson kept repeating that he was an officer in Englewood, the clerk became suspicious and decided to look him up. He then found, through an Internet search, that he had been arrested before. When police arrived at the scene, they arrested Richardson. Upon his arrest, Richardson stated that he respected the job that the police do and that he never intended to hurt anyone, he only wanted to help.

Richardson was also arrested two years ago when law enforcement officials found a gun and a fake badge on his person. He has been charged with impersonating a police officer, which is a felony. If convicted of this crime, he could face up to three years in prison. When interviewed, his mother stated that since he was about 5 years old, he wanted to be a police officer.

If you have been charged with a felony, or any other crime, it is within your rights to have an Illinois criminal defense attorney represent you.