VISTA – On June 14 a Vista man, impersonating a sheriff’s deputy, found himself under arrest by the SDCSD.
Police arrested Abraham Joseph Nava, 24, on multiple charges including falsely impersonating a police officer and false imprisonment. His bail is $110,000.
The investigation began when reports came of a man entering local businesses on Main Street and claiming to be an undercover deputy sheriff.
Witnesses said the man, later identified as Nava, was handing out business cards and interacting with children in the area. In one incident, witnesses said Nava breifly detained two juveniles and had their skateboards taken away.
Witnesses identified Nava as a suspect. Consequently, on June 14 sheriff’s deputies entered Nava’s home on the 100 block of Wave Drive in Vista.
In a search of his home, deputies found fake Sheriff’s Department business cards along with badges and other uniform items. Deputies said that Nava admitted to impersonating a deputy on several occasions.
ABC10 also reports that in 2015 Nava planted a fake bomb at the Westfield Mall in Carlsbad.
As the San Diego Union Tribune states, as Nava impersonated a deputy, he got arrested by actual deputy.
