Two of three men accused of impersonating police officers in two separate incidents Wednesday night were caught as the search continued Thursday for the remaining suspect.
Julian Collins, 22, of Welsh Road in Northeast Philadelphia was charged with impersonating a police officer and possessing an instrument of crime after being arrested Wednesday night outside the 7-Eleven on the 9000 block of Frankford Avenue.
Police say Collins was in a silver Toyota Camry with a strobe light on the dash, when he stopped a car in the parking lot. Collins went up to the victim and flashed a gold badge, police said.
At the same time, two plain clothes cops in an unmarked car drove by and saw the whole incident. Collins was taken into custody. His bail was set at $10,000, according to court records.
Authorities tell NBC10 that wasn't the first time Wednesday night that somebody impersonated a police officer in the city. Investigators say two armed men posed as cops in the Holmesburg section of the city about a half hour before Collins' arrest.
They say the duo stopped three men in a pickup truck on the 4300 block of McMenamy Street. The victims were handcuffed, and police say there was a brief struggle. One of the victims broke his arm and was taken to Aria-Torresdale Hospital.
One of the men allegedly involved in that second incident was arrested Thursday. Police say Michael Green, 30, of Michener Street in Northeast Philadelphia is one of the impostors. But police say that his alleged accomplice made off in a 2005 Chevy Silverado with Pa. plates ZCC0060.
Police do not believe the two crimes are related.
Neighbors in the area are urging others to be aware of who's stopping you before you pull over.
"They have numbers on their car and that's a way to find out who's phony and who's real," said Patrick Chianti.
If you have any information on the impersonators, please contact Philadelphia Police.
