Vincent Richardson, who made national headlines four years ago when he briefly was able to pass himself off as a police officer at only 14, has been busted again for pretending to be a Chicago cop, authorities said Wednesday.
Despite his age, Richardson was so convincing in 2009 that he went on patrol with a real officer for more than five hours on the South Side. This time he didn't get past a clerk at a uniform store, authorities said.
Richardson, now 19, was arrested Tuesday afternoon soon after he walked into the VCG Uniform store in the 5000 block of West Irving Park Road posing as an Englewood District officer, according to the Cook County state's attorney's office.
Richardson was dressed in dark blue cargo pants resembling what Chicago officers wear, according to a police report. He identified himself as an Englewood District police officer, presented his driver's license and told the clerk he was interested in trying on some cargo shorts and a duty belt, according to the report.
The clerk grew suspicious after Richardson kept repeating that he was an officer who worked in Englewood, and discovered during an Internet search that he had been arrested on charges of impersonating a Chicago police officer in 2009, the report said.
When the worker returned to the front counter, Richardson had disappeared but left behind his wallet containing the license, several debit cards and other IDs with his name on them.
Richardson was arrested about 2:15 p.m. at the uniform store, police said.
"I know what it's like to be one of you," Richardson told officers, according to police. "I respect you because I did it for a day chasing and helping people. My intentions are never to hurt people, just to help."
Richardson, of the 6300 block of South Marshfield Avenue, was charged with a felony count of impersonating a police officer, according to Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the state's attorney's office. Richardson faces up to three years behind bars, Simonton said. He is expected in Central Bond Court on Thursday.
Two years after his arrest while impersonating a police officer, Richardson, then 17, was charged as an adult when police said they found a gun and fake badge on him.
Tribune reporters David Heinzmann and Jeremy Gorner contributed.
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