Man Charged With Impersonating A Police Officer At Taunton Starbucks
TAUNTON (CBS) – Police arrested a man and charged him with impersonating a police officer at a Taunton Starbucks.
Kevin Cook of Berkley was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer, criminal harassment, possession of burglarious tools and disturbing the peace.
Taunton Police said a "distraught" woman reported that several months ago she had a brief conversation with a man, and since that time she noticed he was coincidentally at the coffee shop almost every time she was there.
At one point the woman joked to the man that he was stalking her and she would have to call police. The man lifted up his shirt to show her a police badge.
"He was a really police officer and I didn't have anything to worry about," said Amanda Hindle, who reported the incident to police.
The man drove a black SUV with police equipment and would regularly park close to the victim at the Starbucks.
Feeling uncomfortable, the woman changed her regular Starbucks location. But she reported that a short time later, the man showed up in the parking lot.
Starbucks employees recognized the man as "Kevin the cop."
"The victim became more alarmed and although first believing he was a police officer noticed that his attempt to engage her in conversation was laced with sexual comments," Taunton Police said.
The woman photographed the man's license plate and told officers that the SUV was in the Starbucks parking lot as she reported the incidents.
Officers responded and found Cook's vehicle. The SUV had radios, a cage separating the front and back seats, handcuffs, flashing lights, and other police equipment.
"Certainly scary for the victim," said Taunton Police Lt. Paul Roderick. "To think that every day we go out there and we try to work with the public to earn our trust. Then you have somebody out there who has at the very least put together a vehicle that is similar to a police vehicle."
Radios inside the SUV had frequencies that would allow Cook to listen and communicate with police and fire departments, which violates federal law.
Cook is due in court for a bail hearing on Wednesday.
"I'm just very glad that police took care of this matter immediately so no one else has to go through this, and I just want to go back to my normal life," Hindle said.
Tammie Cook says her husband has been into the fake cop routine for years.
"I think he liked that idea of the prestige and you know the American icon," Tammie said. "I think he wanted it so badly he would do anything to get it."
Despite her husband's denials and 'not guilty' plea, she believes the victim in this case is telling the truth.
"My heart goes out to this girl," Tammie said. "I can't imagine the fear that went through her."
