Jerome Felipe, 53, of Flint, Michigan, was arrested outside the US Capitol building early Friday after allegedly lying to federal officers who recovered a BB gun, ballistics armor, high-capacity magazines, and other “ammunition” from his vehicle, according to a same-day news release from USCP.
A patrol officer reportedly approached the car and began talking to the 53-year-old just before 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Shortly after, Felipe presented multiple USCP officers with a “fake badge” emblazoned with ‘Department of INTERPOL’ and “made a false statement that he was a criminal investigator with the agency,” according to the federal officers’ account of events.
Authorities have since learned that Felipe is a retired police officer out of New York.
The former cop allowed USCP officers to perform a search on his Dodge Charger, resulting in the discovery of one BB gun, two ballistic vests, “several” high-capacity magazines, and “other ammunition.”
The recovered evidence was seen in a collage published Friday by the USCP’s official Twitter account.
“No real guns were found,” highlighted the USCP release.
Felipe is facing charges for his alleged unlawful possession of high-capacity magazines and unregistered ammunition.
Federal investigators have yet to reach a determination as to why Felipe was parked near the US Capitol building at that hour.