A 59-year-old Oakland Gardens man was arrested in Long Island after he allegedly flashed a badge and made false claims of being a retired police officer during a routine traffic stop, Nassau County police said.
Peter Pinto, of 230-03 67th Ave., in Oakland Gardens, was arraigned Aug. 12 in Hempstead’s First District Court on charges of criminal possession of a weapon, possession of a forged instrument, criminal impersonation and possession of a dangerous weapon, the Nassau County Police Department said.
Pinto was arrested Aug. 10 around 10:30 p.m., in Port Washington, L.I., after a police officer allegedly spotted him driving his 2004 Hyundai the wrong direction down a one-way street, police said.
Pinto allegedly displayed a shield and told the officer who pulled him over that he was a retired city police officer, although he did not have a city identification card, police said.
The defendant allegedly was carrying a fully loaded, .380 Walther PPK semi-automatic pistol in a holster on his waistband and had a fraudulent security identification card, police said. Pinto is also alleged to have been in possession of a dagger, billy club and black jack, police said.
No further court dates have been scheduled yet Pinto, a spokeswoman for Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison, she said.
— Nathan Duke
