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Alleged police impersonator arrested

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Vincent Ambrosy

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Vincent Ambrosy is accused of impersonating a police officer and pulling over a motorist in this sport utility vehicle.

A Charleroi man was arrested Tuesday by Southwest Regional police for allegedly posing as a member of that department during a traffic stop earlier this year in Union Township.

Vincent Ambrosy, 22, of 401 Woodward Ave., is charged with unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, impersonating a public servant and harassment for reportedly identifying himself as a Southwest officer when he pulled a Monongahela man over on Route 837 on May 16.

Southwest police Chief John Hartman said Ambrosy was taken into custody Tuesday morning after coming to the police station in Belle Vernon on another matter. He was driving a blue Ford Explorer with a blue light bar and the same license plate given to police by the alleged victim after the May incident. Police said Ambrosy had the light bar because he was a former member of the Belle Vernon Volunteer Fire Department.

Hartman said Ambrosy was watching traffic in an area Southwest police frequently monitor.

Dustin Ginsburg told police he was traveling on Route 837 May 16 when the Ford Explorer pulled behind him and initiated a traffic stop after activating a light bar with blue and amber lights.

“He pulled the person over and told him to slow down,” Hartman said. “He told the driver that he was giving him a warning and then he let him go.”

When the sport utility vehicle pulled away, Ginsburg was able to get the license, JBB-9063. The vehicle came back registered to Ambrosy.

Ambrosy admitted to police he did initiate a traffic stop on Ginsburg. He told police that he knew who Ginsburg was, but admitted the Monongahela man did not know him. He also admitted to telling Ginsburg that he worked for Southwest Regional police.

Hartman said when he asked Ambrosy why he did it, the Charleroi man responded, “I am just a dumb ass.”

Southwest police are investigating whether other incidents occurred to which Ambrosy may be connected.

“We want to make sure we have no other victims,” Hartman said. “We want to determine if anyone else was pulled over.”

Anyone who might have had a similar contact is asked to call police at 724-929-8484 or send a private message on their Facebook page.

Ambrosy was arraigned before District Judge James Ellis and placed in Washington County Jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 8 before Ellis.

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