The NYPD has arrested a man living in Morris Heights who had been sought in connection with a citywide police impersonation and theft pattern.

 

The pattern spanned a number of police precincts, including the 48th precinct, encompassing Belmont, East Tremont, and West Farms, the 102nd precinct which covers central Queens containing Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill East, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, and the northern part of Ozone Park, and the Midtown Manhattan North precinct which serves the area of Midtown Manhattan, south of Central Park.

 

On July 20, 2020, at approximately 1.20 p.m., the suspect allegedly engaged in a verbal dispute with an employee inside Radio City Apartments, located at 142 West 49th Street in Midtown, Manhattan. During the dispute, the suspect displayed an [apparent police] shield and firearm and threatened the employee with being investigated by law enforcement.

 

In the following two cases, the suspect allegedly portrayed himself as a law enforcement officer in order to assist victims with various issues. He then coerced them into paying him for services that were never rendered.

 

Between 6 p.m. on April 14, 2021 and 11 a.m. on April 26, 2021, at 4175 Third Avenue, in the vicinity of Walter Gladwin Park and East Tremont Avenue in The Bronx, the individual allegedly removed a 60-year-old man’s computer, two pairs of sneakers, 15 bottles of cologne, and clothing.

 

Between 3 p.m. on May 13, 2021 and 10 a.m. on May 27, 2021, at 95-28 132nd Street in South Richmond Hill in Queens, the individual allegedly removed $3,969 from a 45-year-old man, after posing as a detective and after stating that he would render services on the victim’s behalf.

 

The suspect has been identified as Anthony Gonzalez, and he is described as male and Hispanic.

 

On Wednesday, June 30, the NYPD confirmed that, pursuant to an ongoing investigation, the suspect, Gonzalez, 57, of Harrison Avenue in Morris Heights was arrested at noon on June 29, and was charged with grand larceny, criminal impersonation, petit larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property.

 

A person arrested is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law

 

Anyone with information with regard to these incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.