Michigan Man With Fake Badge, Ammo Arrested Outside Capitol

WASHINGTON — A Michigan man was arrested outside the U.S. Capitol early Friday morning after he was found with a fake badge, a BB gun, body armor, high-capacity magazines and other ammunition, according to the U.S. Capitol Police report.

According to the police report, the arrest occurred shortly before 5 a.m. Friday morning after a U.S. Capitol Police patrol officer started talking to a man who had parked his 2017 Dodge Charger near Peace Circle, on the West side of the Capitol.

The man has been identified as 53-year-old Jerome Felipe of Flint, Michigan.

After other officers arrived at the scene, Felipe, who is a retired police officer and originally from New York, presented them with a fake badge that had “Department of the INTERPOL” printed on it. Felipe also made a statement that he was a criminal investigator with the agency.

Felipe gave officers permission to search his vehicle. The officers discovered a BB gun, two ballistic vests, several high capacity magazines, and other ammunition in the car. No real guns were found.

Investigators are still working to determine the reason Felipe was parked near the U.S. Capitol.

A profile on LinkedIn corresponding to the information given out by the U.S. Capitol Police identifies Felipe as the CEO of a Flint, Michigan firm called Zabal Inc., which carries our surveillance, investigations, wiretaps, and engages in cold cases and missing persons investigations.

Prior to that, the profile states Felipe was both an officer with the public housing division of the New York Police Department in Queens, New York, and a United States Marine Corps. recruiter.

Felipe is facing charges for unlawful possession of high capacity magazines and unregistered ammunition.