Massapequa man convicted of impersonating cop and carrying loaded gun in phony police car
MINEOLA, NY — A Nassau County jury has convicted a Massapequa man who rigged his white Chevrolet Impala to look like an unmarked police car and was found carrying a loaded .45 caliber handgun, handcuffs, fake badges, and a tactical vest labeled “Police DEA Task Force.”
Andrew Denton, 27, was convicted on October 29 after a trial before Judge Tammy Robbins. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Denton guilty of two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, criminal impersonation in the first degree, and multiple traffic infractions. He faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced on December 3.
According to prosecutors, Denton was first warned by police in April 2023 after being pulled over for operating his Impala with unauthorized emergency lights, making it resemble an unmarked patrol vehicle. He was instructed to remove the lights, but six months later, he was back on the road—this time brake-checking a vehicle on the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway and flashing blue, amber, and white emergency lights.
That vehicle turned out to be an unmarked car driven by actual plainclothes police officers.
After following Denton off the highway, officers attempted to stop him. Denton slowed down, activated his fake rear emergency lights again, and rummaged through the front passenger seat before stopping. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered an orange flare gun, a gun-mounted light, a knife, NYPD shield, handcuffs, gun cleaning brushes, and a backpack containing a loaded .45 caliber handgun with two fully loaded magazines.
Investigators confirmed Denton’s DNA was present on the firearm. A further search of the car’s trunk uncovered a tactical vest with wooden plates, a fake taser, baton, radio, and patches identifying the vest as belonging to a “Police DEA Task Force.”
Denton was arrested at the scene and charged by Nassau County Police.
Key Points
- Andrew Denton was convicted of impersonating a police officer and possessing a loaded, illegal handgun
- Officers stopped Denton after he brake-checked their vehicle and activated emergency lights on his Impala
- A search revealed a loaded .45 caliber gun, police-style gear, fake badges, and a tactical vest labeled “Police DEA Task Force”
