OCALA, Fla. (AP) – A Florida teen who wanted to impress his girlfriend stole his uncle’s deputy uniform, gun and patrol car, picked up a friend, pulled over a speeder and called in another police agency over a convenience store disturbance, authorities said.
Isael Ibrain Lima, 18, broke into his uncle’s locked bedroom while he was away for a few days and went on to impersonate him, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office news release said. Lima later admitted he did it to impress his girlfriend.
Deputy Yoandy Miranda returned from his trip Sunday and noticed that his locked bedroom had been broken into and someone had been in his patrol car. He reported this to Sgt. Bobby Levay, who realized he had met a “Deputy Miranda” the day before when Lima, in his uncle’s uniform, reported a convenience store disturbance.
Also responding to that call was an officer with the Belleview Police Department. Miranda and investigators reviewed that officer’s body camera video and identified Lima, who had introduced himself to Levay as an off-duty Deputy Miranda.
This Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, photo provided by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, shows Isael Ibrain Lima. The Florida teen was arrested on Monday after he stole his uncle’s deputy uniform, gun and patrol car, picked up a friend, pulled over a speeder and called in another police agency over a convenience store disturbance in Ocala, Fla., authorities said. (Marion County Sheriff’s Office via AP)The Ocala Star-Banner first reported that Lima, who lives with his uncle, later admitted to detectives that he put on the uniform, including Miranda’s handgun and other equipment, and drove to his girlfriend’s house to impress her, according to police reports. He also picked up a friend who recorded him pulling over a speeding driver and issuing a warning. Detectives later obtained the video.