ARREST: POLICE IMPERSONATOR

Late yesterday, an arrest was made in the police impersonator investigation. The arrest came after an investigation that was conducted over a two week period by D/Lt. Michael Sweeney, Detective Robert Domski and Detective Michael Davey. Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives continued to develop leads and were ultimately able to locate surveillance photographs depicting a possible suspect inside a bodega in the northern section of Paterson. The images were of an unidentified male, and as a result, detectives opted to share said images with the public and local law enforcement community in anticipation of receiving further leads. This action proved successful late yesterday afternoon, when a Passaic County Sheriff's Officer on patrol in the North Main Street area of Paterson, observed an individual that fit the description of the "person of interest" depicted in the photograph. At this time, Sheriff's Officer Christopher Patacco stopped the individual, later identified as Michael John Conger (26 y.o.a.) of Paterson, and eventually arrested him for an outstanding warrant. Clifton Detectives were subsequently notified of the arrest and arrangements were made for the suspect to be conveyed to the Clifton Police Department for further investigation.

Upon the suspect's arrival in Clifton, Detectives Domski and Davey conducted a lengthy interrogation of him. The interrogation, coupled with the circumstances surrounding the investigation, led detectives to successfully link the suspect to all three incidents of police impersonation that took place on February 2, 2012 in the City of Clifton, and to confirm that the suspect acted alone. The suspect was ultimately charged with Burglary, Theft and multiple counts of impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer.  Bail was set at $75,000 no 10% and the suspect is currently awaiting transport to the Passaic County Jail.