CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston police detectives are dealing with a very violent and highly unusual crime.
Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper said it happened Wednesday evening around 7:00 at an apartment on 4th Ave. in North Charleston when Robert Kennedy, 54, and Lloyd Daniels, 72, heard a knock at their door.
“When they looked out the door, a man wearing a hat that said ‘POLICE’ on it announced they were the police and they had a warrant. They entered the home and knocked the (men) to the ground and used what are called zip-ties to tie their hands,” Cooper said.
The suspects then threw a blanket over Kennedy and Daniels heads so they couldn’t see what was happening. The ransacked the apartment and took 60 Oxycontin pills, $4,500 in cash and a food stamp card. On the way out the two men were spotted.
“A witness saw the suspect leaving the scene. It appeared suspicious to them because the (suspects) were carrying what appeared to be a pillowcase full of something,” said Cooper. “That witness went to check on the victims because something just didn’t seem right. He found them in that condition and was able to cut them free.”
Police believe the suspects got away in a white Impala. Cooper said the victims didn’t appear to know the suspects.
Cooper said in his 20 years on the force this is one of a handful of cases he’s handled involving suspects pretending to be police.
“This is a rare type of occurrence. Clearly it heightens our concern because they’ve identified themselves as police officers, they’ve impersonated police officers. That’s always dangerous.”
Cooper said when in doubt about the identity of someone claiming to be a police officer, ask to see their badge and identification. The detective stressed a real officer will not have a problem showing you.