Queens man pretended to be cop, searched person at LI gas station: police

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Queens man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly impersonating a police officer and searching a man and his car at a gas station on Long Island last week.

Mitchell Robi, 32, allegedly approached a 25-year-old man at a Mobil gas station on 101 Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont on March 17 and identified himself as an undercover, off-duty police officer, according to Nassau County police.

Robi then allegedly searched the victim's sweatshirt and pants pockets. He then opened the passenger side door of the victim's car to move items on the floor, police said.

The victim asked Robi for police identification and Robi left the scene in a red Nissan Altima.

Following an investigation, Robi was arrested without incident and charged with criminal impersonation.

Police are asking anyone who feels they may have been the victim of a
similar incident, to contact the Fifth Squad at 516-573-6553 or Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.