Brick Twp. Police car. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
A Brick Township man has been charged with impersonating a police officer after pulling over at least two cars over the weekend, Brick police said.
Kenneth Murphy, 56, of Brick, was allegedly driving a dark silver pickup truck when he followed a woman into the Wawa parking lot at 595 Brick Boulevard and activated blue and red emergency lights. The man then approached the victim and told her that 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. The man “continued to linger around the victim’s parked vehicle, speaking into what appeared to be a small two-way radio,” Sgt. Jim Kelly said.
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The victim eventually exited the store at which time the man, later identified as Murphy, told her that he was a retired police officer and that he was “calling for backup.” The victim then told him that she would call 9-1-1, at which point the suspect got back into the pickup and drove away.
From there, the story was the subject of a discussion on social media, where another victim was located. In that case, on the same day, the victim was approached by the suspect who pulled the victim over on Barberry Drive in Brick.
Police continued to follow leads provided by both victims which subsequently resulted in the identification and arrest of Murphy, Kelly said.
Officers Scott Smith, Ryan Wynn, Carissa Pagnotta and Sgt. Jason Shepherd went 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 who has not yet alerted authorities is being encouraged to contact Detective Bob Shepherd at 732-262-1121.
