Contreras

MIDDLETOWN – A Middletown man is under arrest after he went to a house in the City of Middletown and told the woman who answered the door that he was with the FBI.
What he didn’t know was that he had randomly selected Middletown Police Chief Ramon Bethencourt’s home. The chief was at work, but his wife asked to the identification from Santiago Contreras of Harrison Street in Middletown after he flashed a resident alien card.

When she asked for further ID, the man took off and was located a short time later on Irwin Avenue. He had with him plastic gloves and a homemade “shank” knife tucked into his jacket sleeve.

He was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted robbery, first-degree attempted burglary, possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and criminal impersonation in the first degree.

The incident occurred around 9:20 a.m. Monday.

State Police assisted Middletown City Police in the Investigation.

Police said residents should be aware that criminals occasionally claim to be law enforcement officers in order to further criminal activity. When in doubt, residents should ask for identification and if there appears to be anything suspicious, call police. The Middletown City Police number is 845-343-3131; State Police Troop F Headquarters in Wallkill is 845-344-5300.