http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs ... /702100356
Airmont 'bounty hunter' accused of posing as cop
By Steve Lieberman
The Journal News
(Original Publication: February 10, 2007)
AIRMONT - Ramapo police arrested a 41-year-old village man yesterday on charges of posing as a police officer.
Bella "Anthony" Costello became the second man arrested in two weeks by Ramapo police on the same accusation.
Costello used a phony police badge and posed as an officer at least three times since December, police said. He was charged with three counts of second-degree criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor.
Based on the two recent arrests and a 2005 case, Detective Sgt. John Lynch said the state should make impersonating a police officer a felony.
Also this month, a Haverstraw man was arrested with a variety of weapons, a police badge and identification, and equipment such as handcuffs and a federal agent license plate placard.
District Attorney Michael Bongiorno said he would ask the New York State District Attorneys Association to lobby the state for a felony charge of impersonating a police officer.
Bongiorno, the association's president, said posing as a police officer creates dangers and could hurt the credibility of law enforcement.
"Raising the level would be easy to do by the Legislature," Bongiorno said. "It is something we can look into to see if there is a problem across the state. I will bring it up."
Ramapo police arrested Costello at 9 a.m. yesterday at his home, 300 Route 59.
Lynch said Costello considers himself a bounty hunter, but he has no police authority.
"He may operate as a bounty hunter, and he apparently did receive some training from a school on locating fugitives," Lynch said. "He has no official authority recognized by any government or law enforcement agency."
Costello flashed a gold-colored badge while trying to stop a driver on Route 59 in Monsey during a road-rage incident, Lynch said.
He was driving a black Cadillac and tried to stop a car near the M&T bank, police said.
Costello also is accused of using the gold badge several times to get food and services at a local fast-food restaurant, Lynch said.
Police also said Costello posed as a police detective in a telephone conversation with a Ramapo officer at 1:10 a.m. Thursday. Lynch said Costello identified himself as a detective and attempted to get information concerning an arrest.
Costello was being held yesterday afternoon pending arraignment in Ramapo Town Court or a police decision to free him on bail.
Lynch said police were investigating other incidents involving people posing as police officers.
Lynch said police posers create a danger to the public and real officers. He said the law should be changed to make impersonating a police officer a felony.
Under current state law, the charge rises to a felony when the impersonator is committing another felony while posing as a cop, Lynch said.
_________________
Steve Hedrick
Hedrick & Associates INVESTIGATIVE GROUP
Nederland, TX
TX PI LIC #A-09665
(409) 284-1895
http://360.yahoo.com/ftachaser357
"For every DEFENDANT that fails to appear in Court, there is a VICTIM seeking Justice"
