COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — New details of a Westerville man charged with impersonating a federal officer came to light during a federal trial this week in which a jury found him guilty.
On more than one occasion, Brendan Conklin, 45, pretended to be a federal officer and unlawfully detained, searched and arrested a victim who was driving with a child in her vehicle.
He was found guilty of impersonating an officer or employee of the United States and making an arrest or search while impersonating an officer. Each offense carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Watch what happened before and after fatal wrong-way crash in Columbus
Authorities were alerted to an incident in December 2023 after Conklin mistakenly locked a woman in his car while making an illegal arrest. According to federal prosecutors, Conklin was driving a former police SUV, equipped with lights while wearing a vest with badges, insignias and in possession of a weapon and handcuffs…