Vincent Richardson, 19, was caught at a Chicago police uniform store trying to buy merchandise. Richardson told employees he was a cop from the Englewood District. On Thursday, Richardson appeared in bond court. A judge ordered him released with an electronic monitor.
He first got caught when he was 14 years old. Now at 19, prosecutors say Richardson walked into a CPD uniform store on the Northwest Side wearing police-looking cargo pants and a white shirt.
"A store employee asked if he was a police officer and the defendant Richardson replied that he was a police officer from the 7th District," said Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Erin Antonietti.
Employees at VCG Uniform say Richardson tried to buy a nylon duty belt, cargo pants and shorts, and a blue short sleeve shirt.
A salesperson thought Richardson looked suspicious so he Googled him and realized Richardson was the kid cop impersonator that made national headlines over four years ago. At that point, prosecutors say Richardson left quickly, leaving behind his wallet and identification.
"The defendant went to retrieve his identification at the uniform store when he was detained by police," said Antonietti. "In his possession was a receipt for an online purchase that the defendant had made of a Chicago Police Department badge and neck holder."
Richardson's latest trouble is mild compared to what he pulled off in 2009, when he walked into a South Side police station dressed in a regulation uniform minus the badge and gun. Richardson looked so convincing, the boy was assigned to a squad car and a partner -- they went on calls for several hours. Richardson even helped the senior officer arrest someone.
At the time, his mother, Veronica Brock, told ABC7, her son had impersonated an officer a few times before he was caught the first time.
"He basically said he did it because he was bored," said Brock at the time.
Richardson's mother was not in court for her son's latest charges. Besides impersonating a police officer, Richardson's criminal background also includes passing himself off as a businessman at a car dealership, where he took a Lexus out for a test drive.
Richardson's attorney says his client attends college and works for a security company. He is expected to be back in court in August.
