Posted on 09/28/24
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 28, 2024 - A man with a history of impersonating police is facing criminal charges after he stole an encrypted radio from one of the Baltimore Police Department's district substations and used it to interfere with officer activity over the weekend.
Charging documents show that Reche Simpson, 26, gained access to the department's Northwestern District substation on Sept. 21. That's when investigators believe that he was able to swipe a Motorola APX6000 from a charging dock located in a secure part of the station.
Security camera footage recorded Simpson entering through a side gate at the substation in a Toyota Camry. He initially tried to "gain access to the building by displaying a badge on his shirt," according to court records. Additionally, he told officers that he was looking for a "Sergeant Hamond."
At one point, an officer escorted Simpson to Hamond's mailbox so that he could leave a message. That's when investigators believe he was able to take the police radio.
No one knew the radio was missing until the officer assigned to use it couldn't find it. He last saw the radio when he finished working the overnight shift around 7:15 a.m. on Sept. 20. The officer noticed it was missing when he returned to work around 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 21, according to court records.
Police launched an investigation into the missing radio. Eventually, a communications sergeant was able to determine that someone had been using it in the police department's Central District, which is responsible for providing police services to downtown Baltimore, the Inner Harbor, Harbor East, and some of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Investigators describe in their charging documents how the sergeant tried to engage the person in possession of the radio and determined that they were providing false information. Soon after, the department deactivated the missing radio. It resurface around 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 22., according to court records.
That's when Simpson approached an officer working near the intersection of North Eutaw Street and Saratoga Avenue. Court records state that Simpson told the officer that he found the radio near the 7-Eleven at 38 S. Paca Street. During their conversation, Simpson mentioned that he was good friends with Hamond who worked in the Northwestern District.
Over time, investigators learned that Simpson and Hamond had previously worked for the same security service roughly two years ago. Hamond told them he knew Simpson casually, but not personally. He said Simpson had expressed interest in becoming a police officer.
Charging documents show that Simpson agreed to be interviewed by investigators at the Northwestern District substation. He was on the phone with Hamond when he showed up for the interview.
"Upon his arrival, Mr. Simpson was on a phone call with Sergeant Hamond, which he handed to the investigator," court records state. "Speaking with Sergeant Hamond, it was determined that he was unaware of the situation and had advised Mr. Simpson that he was not at the station."
During the interview, Simpson described how he had found the stolen radio under a mailbox. After additional questioning, he allegedly admitted to stealing it from the substation because hewanted "to learn how it functioned."
Investigators learned that Simpson drove around with the radio "using it to handle calls dispatched by a Baltimore City Police dispatcher." He even showed up to a call for police service on Sept. 22 and assisted a 14-year-old child in crisis, according to court records.
Simpson reportedly identified himself to the teenager as a "critical incident officer" and helped facilitate the transportation of the teen to a local hospital.
At that point, Simpson was no longer even working as a security officer. Investigators discovered that his employment at C.I.E.R. Security and Protection Agency—a security service based in Randallstown, Maryland—had been terminated, and his security I.D. had expired. "Despite this, Mr. Simpson continued to wear police-marked clothing and tactical gear, impersonating a police officer to deceive the public," according to charging documents.
Baltimore police have charged Simpson with stealing property valued between $1,500 to under $25,000, impersonating a police officer, impersonating a law enforcement officer's uniform, and two counts of obstructing an officer.
This is not the first time Simpson has been caught impersonating an officer. He was charged for that crime in Baltimore County, too, according to court records.
In June 2022, Simpson was driving a black SUV with police lights on it when he pulled over a man who was traveling southbound on I-695 in Catonsville, Maryland, according to charging documents.
The man happened to work for a security company by the name of Maximum Protective Services. He said in a police report that he recognized Simpson as a job applicant who had been rejected.
Charging documents describe how the man refused to provide Simpson with his license and registration without proper identification. This yielded a defensive reaction from Simpson, who allegedly pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at the man before driving away.
Simpson was described as having "CIER company logo patches worn on his person during the fraudulent traffic stop," according to court records. Simpson told Baltimore County investigators that he was, indeed, in his uniform and on his way to work when he attempted to conduct the traffic stop, but he did not withdraw his weapon.
Baltimore police spokesman Vernon Davis confirmed to Fox45 in an email that Simpson had been arrested after officers learned he had "entered the entrance of the Northwest Police District with a security guard ID." Simpson was taken to the Baltimore Central Booking & Intake Center where he was charged with trespassing, Davis said.