A retired NYPD officer posing as a criminal investigator with the "Department of the Interpol" was arrested outside the U.S. Capitol with body armor and high capacity magazines, authorities said Friday.
The 53-year-old Michigan man was parked outside the west side of the Capitol around 5 a.m. when police officers noticed his vehicle, according to a statement from the U.S. Capitol Police.
Jerome Felipe, who worked for the NYPD between 2004 and 2018, identified himself to officials as an investigator with Interpol and presented them with a fake badge, according to police.
Officers searched Felipe's vehicle and allegedly found a BB gun, two ballistic vests, high capacity magazine and other ammunition.
A statement from Capitol Police said no real guns were found on Felipe's person or inside his vehicle. He's now facing charges of unlawful possession of high capacity magazines and unregistered ammunition.
Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.
Contact information for Felipe's legal representation was not immediately known. A senior police officials said that Felipe retired with discipline pending, and was given regular disability. He was not given permission to continue carrying a firearm, the senior police official said.
News
Capitol Police investigators were still working to determine why the man was parked outside the Capitol early Friday morning.
