Watch out for ‘fake cop’ – Police

After a notorious conman who has a proclivity for passing himself off as a police office was again arrested this weekend, the police are advising persons to beware.

“The Police are advising members of the public to be aware of persons who appear to be conducting genuine business activities, but are impersonating the police,” a press release from the Police Public Relations Department stated. It listed several new charges, and one investigation for impersonation related to convicted conman Iso Lynch.

“Mr Iso Lynch is one such person who has been convicted on numerous occasions for deception and impersonating police officers in the past,” the release, sent on Monday said.

Lynch has, to date, 17 convictions for deception and one for impersonation.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Junior Simmons, head of Police Public Relations at the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), while speaking to SEARCHLIGHT yesterday stated that, “A police officer, first and foremost, should never, should never operate the way in which Iso Lynch operates,” and should remain professional and show integrity at all times.

“One of the easiest ways in identifying a police officer when he’s not in his uniform, you ask him to show you his identification card,” the ASP informed.

The Identification Card has much information on it, including, Simmons informed, the enlistment date of the holder, a picture and signature of the

holder of the card, the police crest, the police officer’s name, rank and number, the signature of the Commissioner of Police, the height of the holder, the date of the card was issued, the officer’s national ID card number, the officer’s national voter’s registration number and the national colours.

Besides this, the ASP noted that there is, “Nothing wrong with making a call to the nearest police station so that you can verify that person is a police officer.”

The release states: “Police are investigating a report of impersonation reported by a 36-year old businessman of Yambou against Iso Lynch. According to preliminary investigations, Lynch allegedly, with intent to defraud the 36-year-old businessman, falsely presented himself as Inspector Allen, a Police Officer of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force who is fictitious, at Bentick Square, Rose Place about 2:45pm [on January 24, 2019]”

Just a day before, on January 23, Lynch is charged with dishonestly obtaining $250 from a 61-year-old of contractor of Belair. He is also charged, according to the release, with dishonestly obtaining $800 and $2400 in cash on December 18 and 29 respectively, from a 48-year-old businessman of Georgetown.

He also has charges for traffic offences for January 23, namely driving PA-240 without there being a policy of insurance in force, without a driver’s permit, and driving the said vehicle recklessly on Park Hill public road.

Iso Lynch started his career of deception at the young age of 21 in 2002, when he pretended to be a Coastguard officer, who wanted to sell a fibre glass boat. In 2010, he was convicted, for deception charges, which involved him posing as the fictitious ‘Inspector Browne’ with the power to facilitate the easy procurement of firearm licenses.

He developed a detailed backstory at that time about previously working for the Rapid Response Unit and working in the office of the Commissioner of Police.

Further, he posed as a fictitious high ranking Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Grant in 2016, and a real policeman, the Assistant Commissioner of Police Sampson.