Man allegedly posed as police officer to get store credit at businesses in the Kootenays
Mounties in the Kootenays say a 57-year-old man has been charged with posing as a police officer "to gain tangible benefits from local businesses."
Creston resident Felix Ference allegedly visited multiple businesses in and around the city, posing as an undercover police officer, according to a news release from Creston RCMP.
"The man convinced three businesses to provide him store credit to obtain goods and never returned to pay for the items as he had initially promised," police said in their release.
"The man is also alleged to have produced a legitimate police identification card and business cards during these interactions, but he in no way works for the RCMP or any other police force."
Police said they received multiple reports about the man's behaviour on Nov. 20. Investigators identified Ference as the suspect and arrested him.
He has since been charged with three counts of "personate a peace officer," two counts of fraud under $5,000 and one count of theft under $5,000, police said, adding that he has been released from custody on several conditions.
Police said they believe Ference may have attempted to get goods or services from other businesses in the area as well. They're asking anyone who may have fallen victim to the alleged scam to contact them.
"We know it is not uncommon for small businesses to extend credit to customers in more rural areas," said Const. Brett Urano in the release.
"If you were victim to this, or someone attempted to gain store credit purporting to work with the police, we would like to hear from you."
Creston RCMP can be reached at 250-428-9313.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.