Ventura

Armed Cop Impersonator Arrested in Ventura

A cop impersonator armed with a gun was arrested after police officers spotted him dressed in a full Los Angeles Police Department uniform next to a fake squad car in a Ventura parking lot Sunday, police said.

Officers responding to a report of four suspicious males at Capri Avenue east of Johnson Drive found the suspect wearing a full LAPD uniform, including a badge, name plate, duty belt and gun, according to Ventura Police Department news release.

Oliver James, a 44-year-old Glendale resident, allegedly identified himself an off-duty LAPD officer, police said. He was standing next to a black and white patrol car that had "Police" written on the side and a siren on the roof.

Investigators learned that James was neither an LAPD employee nor a sworn police officer, the release said. The car was sold by the LAPD in 2012 and had been unregistered since then.

James was arrested and booked on suspicion of impersonation of a police officer and carrying a firearm.

The car was impounded and the three other males were released at the scene.

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