Lisa McLoughlin
A man who allegedly pretended to be police officer for 15 years was caught out by mistake at a Maryland restaurant where he worked security.
Antione Tuckson’s apparent impersonation scheme came to light after he tried to apprehend two women who disputed their bill at a Prince George's County eatery on March 6.
According to federal prosecutors, the 37-year-old was armed with a bite dog, police vest, Glock handgun and taser at the time.
Tuckson, who was indicted this month for impersonating a member of the U.S. Marshals service, called the Prince George's County Police Department after a dispute broke out among two women at the restaurant.
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When responding officers arrived near to the restaurant, the career criminal flashed a fake badge before describing the situation.
Officers grew suspicious of Tuckson when they noticed he had left his dog at the venue - something that a law-enforcement canine handler would never do.
According to federal charging documents seen by the Daily Mail, he then tried to have his friend, named in the documents as Nijea Rich, impersonate his supervisor when the cops demanded further proof of his credentials.
As Tuckson was being arrested, Rich arrived to the scene and told cops that the canine was not only a patrol dog, but her emotional support animal.
Notably, Rich also sported ‘police-style clothing’ to the scene and was armed with a handgun, handcuffs, a radio and an expandable baton.
According to the documents, she told the arresting officers: “You locked up a U.S. Marshal?”
Both Tuckson and Rich were indicted on May 19 and arrested on May 20 in Maryland while the canine was placed in the care of the Prince George's County Animal Services Division.
However, a day after Tuckson's arrest, Rich allegedly showed up at the animal services centre, claiming that she was a US Marshal and had the dog released to her.
Officers subsequently raided Tuckson’s home on May 20 and recovered an AR-style rifle with scope and a pistol-grip pump-action shotgun.
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This isn’t the first time he has been accused of the same offense – in fact he was indicted in 2006, 2009 and 2018.
Between 2005 and 2009, the suspect was arrested multiple times for receiving stolen property and was sentenced to 14 months in prison for carrying a gun without a licence in 2007.
He was then sentenced to 16 months in prison in August 2009 for first degree theft.
Tuckson, who is also accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm, now faces a maximum of 13 years in prison if convicted for both impersonation of a U.S. Marshall and firearm charges.
While Rich is accused of impersonating Tuckson's supervisor and faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted.