Nassau County Police Department arrested a Merrick man for criminal impersonation on Friday after the man was found impersonating a fire marshal.
Garden City detectives say that a fire blazed through a Hamilton Place home in Garden City on Friday, October 31, and that Christopher Charles, 54, went to a 7th Street apartment that same day and presented himself to the resident as a fire marshal. At the apartment, Charles allegedly attempted to sign a public adjuster’s contract with the victim. The victim discovered the man was not a fire marshal and contacted the police.
One day later on November 1, the Charles called Garden City Police and requested assistance in stopping a vehicle in front of the Hamilton Place home where the fire occurred. He told police that he was a Hempstead police officer, and then gave the vehicle’s information to the police.
Patrol Officers were unable to locate the vehicle, and Garden City detectives found that the call was placed in an attempt to prevent a competitor from being hired by the victims.
The defendant is the owner of a fire restoration business.
Charles surrendered at the Williston Park police station and is being charged with criminal impersonation in the 1st degree and criminal impersonation in the 2nd degree. He will be arraigned on Saturday, November 9, at First District Court in Hempstead.
[Source: Press Release]