SANTA ANA, Calif. (KTLA) — Two people are behind bars accused of carrying out a robbery scheme that involved the suspects dressing up as cops.
Authorities believe it was part of one woman’s plot to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend.
The victim was walking away from a food truck on North Spurgeon Street last December when he was stopped by two men with badges.
“They call him by name as he’s walking from the vending truck,” said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
“They identify themselves as Ontario police detectives and that they want to talk to him,” he explained.
The men were wearing badges that were hanging on chains around their necks, similar to what detectives wear, according to Bertagna.
They had replica guns and were driving a Dodge Charger, which looks similar to a police vehicle.
“They had a yellow Taser, they had collapsible batons, they had vests similar to what detectives wear,” Bertagna said.
“So by all means, when these persons identified themselves as police officers, the victim thought that, in fact, they were.”
But the men weren’t cops. Instead, police say, they were frauds intent on beating the victim and robbing him.
Police say that the person behind the scheme was the victim’s ex-girlfriend, 36-year-old Rosa Tinoco.
“Obviously she was a very jealous person,” Bertagna said.
That jealousy is what helped break the case weeks later, when the victim noticed Tinoco following him in that Dodge Charger with one of the fake cops.
That man has been identified as 26-year-old Jose Paredes. Police are still searching for the other male suspect.
He is described as a Hispanic male about 20 years old, 5’6″ tall and 170 pounds. He may be a security guard, according to police.
The vehicle the suspects used was a charcoal gray 2007 Dodge Charger with chrome rims.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Cpl. A. Silva at 714-245-8545, or O.C. Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS (1-855-847-6227).
12 Comments to “O.C. Pair Arrested in Phony Cop Plot Against Ex-Boyfriend”
February 27, 2013 at 3:06 PM
How could anyone believe those two ugly people were police officers.
February 27, 2013 at 3:31 PM
You're an idiot!
February 27, 2013 at 3:42 PM
No, just a realist who doesn't wear blinders as you do.
February 27, 2013 at 3:32 PM
Oh I get it, the new system got rid of spambots but missed racists – great.
February 27, 2013 at 3:40 PM
Proud of it too, so shove it.
February 27, 2013 at 4:01 PM
Oh wow! I haven't heard "shove it" since Jr. High!
February 27, 2013 at 4:10 PM
Glad I could bring back "memories." Peace.
February 28, 2013 at 12:46 PM
Lots of losers in Jr. High too. So, how’s life in The Aryan Sisterhood?
February 27, 2013 at 7:02 PM
Shouldn’t you be doing homework now? Good luck getting that GED before your grandkids.
February 27, 2013 at 4:34 PM
Sad that I haven't seen a single intelligent comment pertaining to this story. I look for censoring to take place here, in the near future.
February 27, 2013 at 5:08 PM
More cartel terrorists allowed to live amongst Americans.
February 28, 2013 at 2:40 AM
1) Since when is being a cop part of a beauty pageant???
2) Mexican Cartels exist thanks to your lousy family values that produce millions of looser drug addicts and prostitutes. Your naive thinking isn’t very ‘realist’ after all, now is it ???