Troopers in Queens Arrest Man for Menacing, Impersonating State Police

Queens, NY – On November 22, 2024, Troopers from Troop NYC arrested Mitchell Stern, age 58, of Rhinebeck, NY, for the following charges: Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd Degree – loaded firearm, a class C felony, Criminal Impersonation of a Police Officer in the 1^st Degree, a class E felony, Menacing in the 2^nd Degree – by use of a deadly weapon, a class A misdemeanor, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7^th degree, a class A misdemeanor, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor.

A State Trooper was on patrol in his vehicle, stopped at a red light on Crossbay Boulevard in Howard Beach, at the intersection with 159^th Avenue.  The Trooper was flagged down by a motorist and a passenger saying they were being chased by a man in the vehicle that had pulled behind them and pointed a gun at them. The Trooper interviewed the driver of the vehicle, identified as Mitchell Stern, who had falsely stated he was a member of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and placed him under arrest for possession of a loaded weapon, impersonating a police officer, menacing with a deadly weapon, and endangering the welfare of the child, among other charges.

Stern was transported to the NYPD 106^th Precinct for processing and lodged in Queens County Central Booking on $100,000 bail awaiting his court date.