Police have arrested 18-year-old Isael Ibrain Lima (pictured) who allegedly stole his uncle’s cruiser, sheriff’s deputy uniform and firearm before conducting a traffic stop – all to impress his girlfriend
Police have arrested an 18-year-old man who stole his uncle’s cruiser, sheriff’s deputy uniform and firearm before conducting a traffic stop – all to impress his girlfriend, according to deputies.
Isael Ibrain Lima, from Florida, was charged by Marion County Sheriff’s Office with several offenses including Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer.
On Sunday, September 24th, Deputy Yoandy Miranda, after returning from a weekend trip, noticed that someone had been in his locked bedroom and patrol car but nothing appeared to have been stolen.
A day before, Belleview Police Department officers responded to a disturbance call at a local convenience store.
Sergeant Bobby Levay was met by an individual, later identified as defendant Isael Lima, who identified himself as Deputy Miranda.
Lima said he had witnessed a physical disturbance between two individuals location and had asked for police assistance.
Sergeant Levay was not personally familiar with Deputy Miranda and therefore did not realize Lima was impersonating his uncle at that time.
The next day, Deputy Miranda contacted Sergeant Levay to let him know about the possible burglary at his home.
Sergeant Levay realized that the ‘Deputy Miranda’ he had met the previous day was, in fact, not the real Deputy Miranda, but was Deputy Miranda’s nephew Isael Lima who lives with Deputy Miranda.
Using footage from the Levay’s body camera, Miranda identified the person in the video as Lima.
When detectives spoke with Lima, he admitted to breaking into Deputy Miranda’s room while he was away for the weekend and taking his uniform and issued equipment.
Lima told detectives that he had initially put on the uniform and drove to his girlfriend’s home because he wanted to ‘impress’ her.
Lima also admitted to impersonating an officer at the convenience store in Belleview, Florida, with BPD officers.
He further admitted that he had stolen Deputy Miranda’s patrol vehicle, dressed in Miranda’s MCSO uniform, and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle.
Lima told detectives that he had picked up a friend who rode with him in the patrol car. Lima said that his friend recorded video of this traffic stop.
Isael Lima has been arrested and charged with Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Grand Theft of a Firearm, Openly Carrying Prohibited Weapon, Theft of Law Enforcement Equipment from an Emergency Vehicle, Burglary of a Conveyance, Armed Burglary of a Dwelling, Impersonating a Law Enforcement Official, and Giving a False Name to a Law Enforcement Officer.
He is currently in the Marion County Jail with his bond set at $33,000.
Chief Deputy Robert Douglas said: ‘I don’t think this man realized the danger he put himself in by trying to impersonate a deputy sheriff.
‘Our deputies undergo extensive, ongoing training to be able to do their job safely.
‘Ensuring public safety and trust are our priorities and this is why we take this type of crime so seriously’.