Linthicum, MD — A man’s scheme to impersonate a police officer in order to extort money from prostitutes fell apart when he was busted by the Anne Arundel County PD’s Vice Unit on Monday.
It all started with a tip over the weekend about prostitution happening at a hotel in Linthicum.
Officers were able to identify and interview a woman engaging in prostitution. She told police that a male had visited her at her hotel room on Saturday and had identified himself as a police officer.
He was holding what she believed to be a handheld police radio and demanded money in exchange for not being arrested.
Detective were able to track down the suspect, 53-year-old James Ewing Menke Jr. of Pasadena.
Menke was in possession of a canister of pepper spray with the word “POLICE” in white letters, a stun gun with a “POLICE” sticker and a small portable radio.
He was charged with impersonating a police officer and extortion – less than $1000.00.
The Anne Arundel County Police Department emphasized that Menke is not and has never been Anne Arundel County Police Officer.
