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Man Pulled Over for Busted Tail Light Lies About Being a Police Officer: DA

By Nicholas Rizzi | December 16, 2016 4:52pm | Updated on December 19, 2016 9:38am

GRASMERE — A man driving with a suspended license told police he was a member of the force to try and get out of a ticket, prosecutors said.

Police spotted Francisco Ortiz, 30, driving his Honda with busted tail lights on Dec. 9 and pulled him over at the corner of Narrows Road South and Neckar Avenue, according to his criminal complaint.

The officer noticed an NYPD jacket in the back seat of Ortiz's car and asked if he was a member of the force, prosecutors said.

"Yes I work for the NYPD," Ortiz told officers, according to court documents. "My credentials are at home and I work at Celebration."

Police found that Ortiz's license was suspended, and after a search, discovered two-way radios, a balaclava and a small amount of marijuana in his car, prosecutors said.

Oritz was charged with criminal impersonation, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of marijuana, the Staten Island District Attorney's office said.

He was released without bail and is due back in court on Feb. 8, 2017, according to online court records.

His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.