Armed Felon From Brockton Allegedly Told Police He Was A Sheriff
GLOCESTER, RI (CBS) – A convicted felon from Brockton, Massachusetts was armed with an 11-inch knife, a fake gun, was wearing body armor, and tried to pass himself off as a Barnstable County Deputy Sheriff when officers pulled him over in Rhode Island on Thursday, according to police.
Officers stopped Serge Bernstein, 37, around 3 p.m. in Glocester, R.I. for a motor vehicle violation.
During the traffic stop, an officer spotted the knife on the floor of the car. They also discovered that Bernstein was wearing a protective bullet proof vest, which is illegal to have.
Officers questioned Bernstein, who had a replica 9 millimeter automatic pistol on him that was loaded with blanks. He told police he was a Deputy Sheriff of Barnstable County, and allegedly produced a badge to try and back his claim.
Police brought Bernstein to Glocester Police Headquarters. There, they learned he was not a Barnstable County Deputy Sheriff and that he has a 1998 felony larceny conviction out of Randolph.
Bernstein was charged with felony possession of body armor, impersonating a police officer, a weapons charge, and obstruction of a police officer.
He has since been released until his next scheduled court date on April 19.
