'Teen Cop' Busted Again For Posing As Police Officer

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 24, 2013 10:30PM

Vincent Richardson (Cook County Sheriff's Office)

Vincent Richardson, the young man who made national headlines four years ago for posing as a Chicago cop so effectively he fooled actual police officers, couldn't sucker the owner of a uniform store on the Northwest Side and was arrested once again for impersonating a police officer.

According to the Tribune, Richardson, now 19, entered VCG Uniform store in the 5000 block of West Irving Park Road, told the clerk he was an officer at the Englewood Police District and wanted to try on some cargo shorts and a duty belt. Richardson was dressed in dark blue cargo pants similar to what Chicago police wear, a white short-sleeved shirt and a blue and green jersey with the word “Celtic’’ on the back.

When Richardson kept repeating he was a police officer, the clerk went online and did a search of his name only to discover the much-publicized 2009 incident where he showed up at a police station in full uniform, said he was "reporting for duty," rode in a squad car for hours with another officer and even handled a few calls. The clerk returned from the back of the store to find Richardson gone, but he had left his wallet containing his license and state ID, Social Security card, health insurance card and a number of debit cards.

Amazingly, the 2009 arrest was Richardson's second time impersonating an officer. His first was in 2007 when he was discovered by police wearing a uniform in Ford City Mall. RIchardson's rap sheet includes a May 2009 arrest for car theft (he impersonated a businessman then) and a May 2011 charge with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. (He had a fake badge on him in that incident.)

We've wondered before if Richardson needs help and his response when he was finally arrested only makes us wonder more.

“I know what it’s like to be one of you. I respect you because I did it for a day chasing and helping people,’’ Richardson said, according to the police report. “My intentions are never to hurt people, just to help.’’