According to police reports, a resident of Oroville, California, was apprehended for allegedly orchestrating a scheme involving the fraudulent use of a fake military uniform and an outdated photograph of his disabled son to deceive individuals for financial gain.
The Redding Police Department stated that officers from the Neighborhood Police Unit (NPU) were dispatched in response to complaints received around 12:30 p.m. on February 13.
These reports indicated that a man clad in a military uniform had purportedly stolen $5,000 worth of jewelry from a body piercing establishment.
The individual, later identified as 72-year-old Bernard Curtis, was observed by witnesses entering a silver Jaguar and attempting to depart the premises.
However, prior to Curtis’s departure from the parking lot, NPU officers intercepted him and initiated a traffic stop.
Law enforcement authorities reported that Curtis was apprehended and upon inspection, was discovered to be carrying stolen jewelry, a substantial sum of U.S. currency, and pilfered goods from various other nearby establishments.
Curtis Wore Hybrid Military Uniform
According to police reports, Curtis deliberately donned what appeared to be a composite military uniform, incorporating elements from both the US Navy and US Army, including various rank insignias and patches.
Law enforcement alleges that the suspect then entered establishments, presenting a dated photograph of his disabled son to solicit monetary support under false pretenses.
Despite the outdated nature of the photograph, Curtis succeeded in persuading employees to provide financial assistance.
During the subsequent traffic stop, both responding officers, who were veterans of the Army and Navy, identified several inconsistencies in Curtis’s uniform, leading them to recognize it as counterfeit.
Police disclosed that while Curtis had served in the Navy previously, he misrepresented the duration of his service while engaging in fraudulent activities to deceive individuals for financial gain.
Curtis was charged with grand theft and deliberately misrepresenting military service and attire to impersonate and deceive others with the intention of obtaining money.