MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A 40-year-old man was arrested earlier this week after he robbed a man while posing as a law enforcement officer, authorities said.
According to Miami-Dade police, the incident occurred at about noon Saturday.
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Local 10 News obtained the suspect’s arrest report Thursday, which states that Herbert Elijah Thompson approached the home of the victim on Saturday and said he was conducting an investigation.
Police said Thompson was armed with a gun and wearing “a tactical vest, BDU pants and a gold police badge.”
According to the report, Thompson told the victim that he needed take him to the police station for questioning.
The victim complied and sat in the rear of Thompson’s vehicle, authorities said.
According to the report, Thompson eventually pulled over and said that he needed to pat down the victim.
The victim again complied and Thompson took his cellphone and wallet from his pants, the report stated.
Police said Thompson ordered the victim back into the car, but the victim told him a short time later that he had an upset stomach and needed to use the restroom.
According to the report, Thompson stopped at a Sunflex gas station located at 1330 SW 57th Avenue and started to escort the victim into the convenience store when he stopped and told the victim to go inside without him.
Police said the victim later returned from the restroom and found that Thompson was gone, at which time he called the police.
Officers obtained surveillance video from the gas station which police said corroborated the victim’s statements.
According to the report, Thompson used the victim’s credit card on Sunday to buy food at Burger King and his car was also captured on surveillance video at the fast food spot.
The victim and a witness who was at his home Saturday when Thompson arrived both identified the suspect in a photo lineup.
Police said Thompson was pulled over around 7:40 p.m. Sunday in the area of Northwest 88th Street and 17th Avenue and was taken into custody, but he escaped from the back of a police car.
Authorities said he was eventually captured with assistance from MDPD’s air unit and a K9.
Police confirmed that Thompson was bitten by the K9 and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment.
He was booked into the Miami-Dade County Pre-Trial Detention Center Monday on charges of falsely impersonating an officer while committing a felony, kidnapping, armed robbery and battery.
Thompson’s mugshot was not appearing in the online jail database on Friday morning as it states he is currently being held in the Hospital Services Unit, also known as Ward D.