Former Belle Vernon volunteer firefighter charged with impersonating police
A Charleroi man is facing multiple charges after police allege he impersonated a police officer and stopped a vehicle in Union Township, Washington County.
Vincent Wagner Ambrosy, 22, of 401 Woodward Ave. was charged Tuesday with unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, impersonating a public servant and harassment.
Southwest Regional police Chief John D. Hartman said the charges were filed after an extensive investigation into an illegal traffic stop conducted by a man, later identified as Ambrosy, in Union Township on May 16.
“Mr. Ambrosy posed as a Southwest Regional police officer and stopped a car in Union Township. He advised the motorist to slow down and then let him go,” Hartman said.
Police said Ambrosy made the stop in a Ford Explorer outfitted with a blue light bar on the roof that Ambrosy had used when he served as a volunteer firefighter in Belle Vernon.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Ambrosy stopped a car driven by Dustin Ginsburg, no address available, while driving the Explorer.
Police said that Ambrosy exited his vehicle, told Ginsburg to slow down and said he was giving him a warning and then got back into his vehicle and drove away.
Ginsburg told police that he was able to get the license plate number of the Explorer and reported the incident to police.
Hartman said that no one was injured as a result of the illegal traffic stop and police have not divulged what might have motivated Ambrosy to pose as a police officer.
Ambrosy admitted to police to making the illegal stop and identifying himself as a Southwest Regional police officer.
Ambrosy will face a preliminary hearing at a later date in Washington County district court.