Man Charged with Impersonating Police Officer

A 43-year-old Ivyland man posing as a police officer searched a car at Eaton Park in Hatboro for drugs, according to Hatboro Police. 

John J. Meinel was arrested on Tuesday at 12:21 a.m. and charged with Impersonating a Public Servant, Official Oppression, Theft, Harassment, and Disorderly Conduct.

Meinel had approached four people sitting in a car at the West Moreland Avenue park and identified himself as a police officer, according to Hatboro Police. Meinel then allegedly had the car's occupants exit the vehicle while he conducted a search of them and the car. 

All the while, Meinel questioned them about whether they had any drugs, according to police. 

During the search police said Meinel removed a cigarette lighter from one of the people and kept it.