Montgomery County Police have arrested and charged a man with crimes including impersonating a police officer, extortion, and false imprisonment.
Officials say 24-year-old Kareem Hart of District Heights impersonated an officer and conducted a traffic stop at the White Oak Shopping Center located on the 11200 block of New Hampshire Avenue On December 28 shortly after 6:00 p.m.
Authorities responded to a report of a suspicious person and when they arrived the 20-year-old male victim told officers that he had been driving his vehicle through the shopping center’s parking lot when he mistakenly turned the wrong way on a one-way lane. At that time, a white Nissan Versa with Allied Security markings drove behind his vehicle. The driver of the Nissan activated the vehicle’s roof top light bar which emitted a yellow flashing light.
According to a MCPD press release, the victim stopped his vehicle and was approached by the Nissan’s driver, an Allied Security guard, in a security uniform who was later identified as Kareem Hart. Hart told the victim that he would write him a $250 ticket for turning onto the one-way lane but if he sent him $50 via an electronic payment app, then he would not write him a ticket. The victim sent the money to Hart via the app. The victim then left the immediate area and called police.
At approximately 7:50 that night, officers located the Nissan Versa in the White Oak Shopping Center parking lot and identified the driver of the vehicle as Hart. The victim identified Hart as the suspect who had impersonated an officer and conducted a traffic stop of his vehicle earlier that evening.
Hart was arrested and was transported to the Central Processing Unit. He has since been released on bond.
Officers are concerned that there may be additional victims of Hart’s police impersonation. Anyone who has come into contact with Hart while he has been representing himself as a law enforcement officer is asked to call investigators at: 240-773-6893.
