Full Notification

Suffolk County Police yesterday arrested a man in Brentwood for impersonating a United States Department of Homeland Security agent.
 
A Canine Section officer was driving a marked police vehicle eastbound on the Long Island Expressway, near Exit 53, when he observed a 2019 Audi A8, with emergency blue and red lights activated in the windshield, traveling eastbound on the shoulder of the HOV lane at approximately 12:30 p.m. The officer initiated a traffic stop of the Audi.
 
Fernando Garnecho, the driver of the Audi, portrayed himself to the officer as an on-duty United States Department of Homeland Security agent. He was wearing a black Homeland Security jacket with law enforcement insignia patches and the letters ICE on front and back and had a black replica handgun in a leather holster on the passenger seat. He also possessed a placard, and other law enforcement identifiers, which appeared to be fabricated. Upon further investigation, it was determined that Garnecho is not employed by the United States Department of Homeland Security and he was placed under arrest.
 
Fourth Squad detectives charged Garnecho, 55, of 79-74 Calamus Ave., Elmhurst, Queens, with Criminal Impersonation 1^st Degree. He is being held overnight at the Third Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on September 8.
 
Detectives are asking anyone with information, or who believes they may have been victimized by Garnecho, to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8443.
 
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
 
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Authority:        
Stuart Cameron, Acting Commissioner       21-465318
Suffolk County Police Department              JM/0140