Jewelry store owner opens fire on fake officers in Tampa

Status
Not open for further replies.

the_skunk

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2011
Messages
136
120727043922_Jewelry-Store-Robbery.jpg



VIDEO: Jewelry store owner fires on fake cops Suarez was working in the back room about 8:00 a.m. when he saw over his surveillance system what looked like an undercover cop car pull up. It had lights on the dash, so he buzzed in two men dressed like officers.

Two men dressed as officers who entered a Tampa jewelry store ...."Long sleeve, long shirt, police hat, police badge, had police gun on the side,"


Friday morning were met with a clerk who fought back and opened fire, apparently striking one of the men.

Real Tampa Police officers are investigating the robbery attempt after two suspects seen on surveillance video robbed Marcelo’s Jewelry store on Columbus Drive just after 8 a.m.

Officials said the suspects pulled up to the store in a 4-door green Saturn that was outfitted with a flashing light on the dashboard. As they stood at the door, the store owner, Marcelo Suarez, buzzed the men, thinking they were police officers.He immediately realized they weren't police officers. One of the suspects pulled a handgun and jumped over a counter. Bullets and glass started flying as the second suspect flinched.

The armed suspect jumped back over the counter and the men began to flee. One suspect appears to have been hit and can be seen falling to the ground, as the other suspect runs out of the business. The suspect came back and dragged the apparently wounded man out.

The suspects fled the scene. Officials said four suspects are wanted in the robbery, but only two can be seen in the video.


Tampa Police officials have not stated if the suspect was wounded. Suarez was not injured.


http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/265816/250/Police-posers-try-to-rob-jewelry-store
 
This is what scares me most about police officers. It's very easy to impersonate one. It is also why I am more suspicious of cops than I am of "normal folk".

Real Tampa Police officers are investigating the robbery

The fact they had to specify it was real officers doing the investigation made me laugh.
 
home invasion by impersonaters is a hard fact of life, if someone came to your door dressed like a police officer, regular duty clothes or swat, i'd tell them that you are calling 911 and will cooperate when you receiver word from the 911 dispatch that you are who you say you are and if necissary you want to wait for a spceific named officer to arrive
 
I live in a Boca Raton, a ritzy area of 90,000 retirees, and the local police are well funded, having a SWAT teams, K-9s, and undercover - . The local cops are pushing for a helicopter.

The 'Special Ops' wear nothing but boots and black ninja outfits, and their cars are plain. Being stopped at night is an 'iffy' proposition. They drink at a local young watering hole, four beers later and their 'swagger' is showing.

For me at least, cops need to be in a uniform, or at least be identifiable.
 
In some jurisdictions it's illegal to resist even unlawful actions by an "officer", and they would likely be charged just for that, even though the officers weren't real. Fortunately, Florida has some sanity.
 
For me at least, cops need to be in a uniform, or at least be identifiable.
They were identifiable and they were fake.

... or at least sober in uniform and on duty.
So, what, you goin' to ask for a time card or something?

Nobody would ever want an "off duty" cop and/or out of uniform coming to their aid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rzbu6OOUSQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppTjvbIlBYQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPvoBRwfYnU

This guy was in uniform, but off duty...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa-wfOo36qY

Or you would hate off duty officers out of uniform in a bar and drinking beer stop a robbery...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA7WJLisbk0


Any officer responding to a crisis or otherwise acting in an official capacity is "on duty" even if he isn't on the books as such. He is "on duty" because he is fulfilling his duties and as such is covered by all the protections of the department as well as responsibilities.
 
Officers have a legal obligation to respond in many jurisdictions, however, a justifiable excuse is if you are not fit for duty..aka-drunk.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top