HOLYOKE – A 51-year-old Connecticut man was arrested early Sunday morning after he tried to coerce a woman into a downtown alley by pretending to be an undercover police officer.
Roberto Ruiz-Montanez, of Waterbury, was arrested at about 3:15 a.m. and charged with impersonating a police officer and disturbing the peace, Police Capt. Matthew Moriarty said.
He is accused of approaching a woman “in a threatening manner” in front of 145 Cabot St., claiming he was a police officer and trying to get her into the rear alley at Maple and Cabot streets, he said.
“An unidentified male citizen tried to intercede but Ruiz-Montanez identified himself as a police officer and told him to leave,” Moriarty said.
That man then flagged down Sgt. Joseph Zurheide, who was working in the downtown area, and told him the woman may need help, he said.
Zurheide intervened and, after an investigation, arrested Ruiz-Montanez, he said.
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