By Stephen Bronner
A Queens man was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly impersonated a police officer and used bad checks to buy more than $2,000 jewelry in Woodmere and Levittown.
Brian Harrington, 31, was arrested in Elmont and charged with second-degree possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal impersonation of a police officer and two counts of issuing a bad check.Police said that on Aug. 15 at 1 p.m., Harrington entered Rafael’s Jewelry, located at 1745 Peninsula Blvd., and allegedly told the owner he was a police officer. He then allegedly showed the victim a badge and requested to see a gold chain that cost $2,965.45. Harrington apparently stated he lost his debit card and wanted to pay by check. He allegedly showed the victim his gun holster on his belt to prove he was a police officer. The defendant wrote a check for the above listed amount from his closed bank account to make the purchase.
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The same day at 4 p.m., Harrington entered Gulgattie Jewelry in Tri Count Flea Market, located at 3041 Hempstead Tpke. in Levittown, and again purchased a gold chain totaling $2,283.75 allegedly using a check from his closed bank account to make the purchase.
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