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Hidden Valley Lake man arrested for impersonating peace officer; additional victims sought
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A Hidden Valley Lake man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly impersonating a peace office.
Antonio Hector Molinar, 66, was taken into custody in the case, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
At 10:55 a.m. Thursday Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported battery in Middletown, Brooks said.
Prior to the deputies’ arrival, an individual later identified as Molinar had approached the victim of the battery and identified himself as a United States federal marshal. Brooks said Molinar told the victim he was dispatched there and to investigate the crime.
As deputies arrived on scene, Molinar left the area prior to being questioned. Brooks said the victim of the battery told deputies he believed Molinar was a federal agent and provided a short statement to him.
The deputies contacted Molinar, who explained he was a marshal for the United States Tribal Court, according to Brooks' report.
Brooks said deputies contacted the US Marshal’s Service and discovered that agency was actively investigating Molinar for impersonating a federal agent. The US Marshal’s Service confirmed Molinar was not employed by them.
Molinar was arrested for the possession of a false federal identification. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.
Also on Thursday, detectives secured a search warrant for Molinar’s Hidden Valley Lake residence. At 7:30 p.m., detectives served the search warrant, Brooks said.
During a search of the residence, detectives located numerous items associated with what appeared to be a nonexistent federal agency, according to Brooks.
He said Molinar had an elaborate assortment of law enforcement equipment, which included two Tasers, body armor, multiple identification cards, US Marshal badges, a duty belt with pouches and three air-soft pellet guns that were modified to look like real firearms. All the items were seized as evidence.
After the service of the search warrant, Brooks said Molinar also was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of body armor, obstructing a peace officer, possession of a Taser by a convicted felon and altering an imitation firearm to look like a real firearm.
Molinar also is a sex offender registered the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Brooks reported.
His bail was set at $15,000, and jail records indicated he posted the required percentage of bail and was released.
Brooks said authorities are asking that anyone who has been contacted by Molinar while he's represented himself as a law enforcement official is encouraged to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-263-2690.
Sheriff Frank Rivero advised Lake County citizens that if they are pulled over by an unmarked vehicle and are concerned for their safety, follow all traffic laws and continue until seeing a marked law enforcement vehicle.
If you have a cellular telephone, you can also dial 911 and have the dispatcher confirm whether or not you are being stopped by a law enforcement officer, officials said.