Police impersonation suspect brags on bus, gets busted
AUBURN, Wash. -- Seemingly putting to rest any notion he is a criminal mastermind able to rob park-goers while staying one step ahead of the law with naught but a fake badge and box of porn, Ryan James Purdy was arrested Wednesday for allegedly impersonating an officer in a series of robberies dating back to December.
According to the Seattle Police Department, officers finally caught up with the 46-year-old Purdy, aka Tracy Byers, when he bragged to a fellow bus rider in Auburn that he was wanted by police for impersonating a cop.
The passenger promptly got off the bus and called 911, according to police. Purdy was arrested a short time later and booked into jail.
The search for Purdy started in December when he allegedly robbed a handful of people in Seattle's Volunteer Park using a fake badge.
According to police, Purdy would tell victims he was an undercover cop working an operation in the park and ask to see their wallets and ID. He would then remove credit cards before handing the wallets back, according to police.
Most recently, Purdy was suspected of using a box of pornographic magazines strategically placed in Seattle's Woodland Park as a misdirect before claiming to be an undercover officer in order to pat down and rob his victim.
According to police, Purdy pointed out the box of porn to another man in the park.
When the man took the box of porn back to his car, claiming he wanted to keep it out of the reach of children, Purdy followed him and performed his fake cop routine, according to police.
In jail, they'll say, "boy, you got a Purdy mouth!"
(to the tune of dragnet)
Dumb de dumb dumb... Dumb de dumb dumb duuuuuuumb.Â
The story you are reading is about a criminal moron. The name has not been changed because the guy is an idiot. He is, of course, innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.... but he's still an idiot.Â
What a D-Bag!
He obviously hasn't watched enough COPS shows on tv. Now he'll have even more experience! Good job at apprehending this perp!
Purdy stupid bragging about it. Kudos for calling the cops on this guy before he got bolder with his schemes.
Wow, nice job to the passenger that made the call!
Absolutely a fine job!
Just get a job loser!! What's the point of stealing? You're going to get caught. Then released. It's a vicious cycle you should quit.
But what happened to the box of porn???????
@WendyTeagarden  N.O.Y.B.
@Kushfan  But my sister was Miss April
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@Dr. Rawdog  I thought for sure Wendy was gonna jump all over that one.
@Kushfan  He didn't read my post on the other story
his own loose lips sunk his ship
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What does one look like nowadays? I thought they were all bald with sunglasses somewhere festooning their bald pates? LOL
@Dr. Rawdog Second row, behind the chick?  http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/images/diverse-officers-saluting.jpg
"... the man took the box of porn back to his car, claiming he wanted to keep it out of the reach of children...." Well I guess that's as good an excuse as any..
@StealthActivist Quick thinking on your feet I'd say.