Fake Cop Charged With Oakland Park Drug Ripoff

OAKLAND PARK (CBSMiami.com) - A Broward man who allegedly committed a crime while dressed as a cop is now in the hands of the real cops, who aren't happy he used his impersonation to steal drugs from a man.

The Broward Sheriff's Office arrested Damian Bassetti Friday afternoon and charged him with three felonies, including armed robbery, armed burglary, and impersonating a police officer.

The arrest report said Barretti broke into an Oakland Park home Thursday afternoon, armed with pepper spray, a stun gun, and wearing a black shirt with the words POLICE. The report said he found the man who lived there in bed, attacked him with the stun gun and the pepper spray, and demanded drugs from the man.

Investigators said Barretti took Oxycodone pills from the victim and fled.

Even though the alleged police officer disguised himself with a bandanna, and appeared to be talking with other officers on a walkie-talkie, the victim said he recognized him from past dealings, and knew he was not a cop. When police put his picture in a photo lineup, the victim picked Bassetti.

After BSO arrested the man, the arrest report claims he confessed to the scheme and admitted impersonating a cop to get drugs.