A man from Washington Township, New Jersey, faces criminal charges for impersonating a Homeland Security officer. Nicholas Cabral allegedly entered an unfinished home while armed during a property check on a Wednesday afternoon.
Details of the Incident
Police responded to a call about an open door at a home on Strand Avenue. The caller, later identified as Cabral, met officers at the scene, claiming to be a federal officer from Homeland Security.
Unusual Conduct Raises Suspicion
Washington Township Police Chief Patrick Gurcsik described Cabral’s behavior as suspicious. Cabral arrived in a marked police vehicle complete with lights and the wording “Homeland Security, federal police.” This raised flags among the officers present.
Body camera footage showed Cabral questioning the responding officer about operational procedures and falsely affirming his association with Homeland Security. He was armed and entered the property alongside the police officer, where they determined that the door had been left open by a construction crew.
Investigation Findings
Upon further investigation, the police discovered that Cabral was not employed by Homeland Security or any law enforcement agency. His wife is a Homeland Security officer but was away on deployment at the time. Cabral used her marked vehicle multiple times, as confirmed by police license plate readers.
- Cabral faces charges of impersonating a police officer.
- He also faces charges for possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
- His permit to carry has been revoked, and his firearm was seized.
Community Safety Concerns
Chief Gurcsik expressed serious concerns about the incident, emphasizing the need to protect both officers and residents. Authorities are inviting anyone who may have encountered Cabral while he was using the marked vehicle to reach out.
As of now, Homeland Security has not issued any public comments regarding the incident. Law enforcement remains vigilant in addressing such impersonation cases to ensure community safety.
