Police Impersonator Busted for Thefts: Cops

Victims say suspect identified himself as a cop before frisking them & taking money

A Torresdale man is accused of pulling over young men, telling them that he is a cop and that they fit the description of a suspect and proceeding to steal money while searching the unknowing victim.

John Echols, 39, faces robbery, theft, simple assault, harassment, impersonating a public servant and related charges for three alleged incidents that recently happened, according to court records.

The first reported incident happened on Monday around 3 p.m. on the 7900 block of Frankford Avenue. A 45-year-old man says a white vehicle stopped next to him saying they were cops and that he matched the description of a man wanted for assault, according to a press release from Philadelphia Police.

Police say the two men got out of the vehicle, ordered the victim to put his hands on the vehicle and proceeded to empty his pockets. They eventually gave the victim his wallet back and drove off, cops said.

Only after the fake cops drove off did the victim realize that $35 was missing from his wallet, police said.

On the next day around 9 a.m. a 22-year-old man was walking near the 1000 block of Van Kirk Street when a single man pulled up in a white vehicle, said he was a cop and ordered the 22-year-old to put his hand on the vehicle, cops said.

Just like in the previous incident, the victim told police that he was told by the guy in the white vehicle that he matched the description of a wanted man. The victim’s pockets were emptied and a short time later he was given everything back as the vehicle drove off. A short time later he discovered 30 bucks missing, cops said.

Later Tuesday around 11:15 a.m. a 26-year-old man was stopped while walking on the 660 block of Marsden Street, police said.

The victim’s story matched the earlier incidents and he was able to tell police that the alleged fake cop was driving a white Dodge Avenger with Georgia license plates. In that case $123 was taken from the victim, cops said.

In none of the incidents was the victim hurt, cops said.

Police say that on Tuesday around 4:35 p.m. an off-duty cop spotted an Avenger with Georgia plates that matched the description from the thefts. A marked police car then stopped the vehicle on the 9400 block of Roosevelt Boulevard and arrested Echols.

Echols has a long history of prior convictions including homicide by vehicle, robbery and drug charges, according to court documents.

He was arraigned on the most recent charges Wednesday and jailed on $200,000 bail.

It is unclear if police are looking for the second person alleged to have been involved in Monday’s incident.


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