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Police: Man pretends to be NYPD detective

Suspect faces cocaine, impersonation charges in Spotsylvania

Date published: 11/20/2006

By BILL FREEHLING

A man who pretended to be a detective in the New York Police Department was arrested in Spotsylvania County early this morning, authorities say.

Spotsylvania sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Webb noticed a 1998 Nissan crossing the center line on Lafayette Boulevard near the Fredericksburg line about 1:45 a.m., said Spotsylvania Sheriff Howard Smith.

After Webb pulled the vehicle over, the driver got out and put his wallet on his car. He told the deputy that he was a detective with the NYPD and had a badge to prove it, Smith said.

The man did in fact have a real badge from the NYPD, but Smith said the deputy was suspicious. He was young to be a detective in such a large police department, and his angry demeanor didn’t suggest he was an officer.

Smith said the alleged detective became combative. A bag of cocaine then fell out from an area around his midsection, police say.

Jesse Ryan Graser, a 25-year-old man with no fixed address, was arrested and charged with cocaine possession and impersonating a police officer, Smith said.

Smith said additonal charges of property destruction and obstruction of justice were filed against Graser after the side window of the deputy’s patrol car was kicked out.

Graser was being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Smith said his office was checking with the NYPD to find out how Graser may have gotten a department badge.

To reach BILL FREEHLING: 540/374-5424 bfreehling@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 11/20/2006