Modified: January 25, 2017 9:17pm
Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Corey Shepard of Cheektowaga pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Michael Pietruszka to two counts of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, two counts of Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, Menacing in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree.
On October 14, 2016, the defendant called 911 to report an erratic driver and claimed that he was an off-duty police officer on his way home from working in Buffalo. Cheektowaga Police responded and pulled over the erratic driver and the defendant subsequently joined the traffic stop. The defendant can be seen on video from the patrol car wearing a clearly marked police uniform, claiming he was an officer assigned to Buffalo Psychiatric Center Police.
Cheektowaga police later searched Shepard’s home and found the defendant in possession of police uniforms, a bullet-proof vest, fake police identifications purporting to be from the Office of Mental Health and Canisius College, a parking ticket book for the Buffalo Police Department and other law enforcement related items.
Shepard also admitted to presenting himself as a police officer while working security at a local drugstore.
Shepard faces a maximum of 2 2/3-8 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Pietruszka on April 6, 2017 at 2 p.m.
DA Flynn commends the investigative work of Cheektowaga Police Officer Jacob Wodowski, Lt. Brian Gould and Lt. Kenneth Rusin, as well as Buffalo Police Detectives John Paradowski and Charles Militello.
Felony Trials Chief Rachel L. Newton prosecuted the case.