RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. — A 59-year-old man was arrested in Randolph County after deputies say he falsely claimed to be a law enforcement officer and was later found in possession of drugs, cash and a firearm despite being barred from owning weapons under a domestic violence order.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were on Kimberly Lane in Trinity on Thursday investigating an earlier incident when they noticed a truck parked in the middle of an empty field. While deputies were on scene, dispatch received a call from the truck’s driver, who identified himself as a law enforcement officer. Deputies approached the vehicle to investigate.
The driver, identified as Frank Vincent Patinella, was arrested for impersonating a law enforcement officer, deputies said…