An Elmont teenager was arraigned Tuesday and stands accused of impersonating a police officer and pointing what appeared to be a handgun at two people during a Monday afternoon road rage incident, Nassau County police said.
Andrew Schreier, 19, left court flanked with bail bondsmen after posting $50,000 bond on charges of criminal impersonation, forgery, menacing, and drug possession.
Police said Schreier was involved in a road rage incident on Monday around 3 p.m., when he pulled alongside a car while driving on Elmont Road. Schreier allegedly told the 29-year-old victim “I’m a cop, and I’ll give you tickets,” while displaying a gold badge. In court, prosecutors said that when the victim and his passenger didn’t respond, Schreier displayed what appeared to be a black handgun and pointed it at the victims.
The victims called police and followed Schreier to Rockmart Street, a dead end, where he allegedly ran into a backyard. When police officers arrived, a neighbor told them of Schreier’s whereabouts. He was arrested at the scene. A glass bottle containing what police believe to be the drug Ecstasy, was found in Schreier’s shoe, cops said.
Prosecutors said Schreier made two statements to police, including a written confession, and then took officers to the location where he allegedly dumped the weapon. “The gun used during the menacing, which turned out to be a black airsoft pistol, was also recovered,” police said in a news release.
At the precinct, officers found that Schreier was in possession of “a forged New Jersey driver’s license, a forged Department of Homeland Security photo identification and two Federation of Postal Police photo IDs,” according to police. Prosecutors said Schreier admitted to making the identification cards himself.
His father, a 22-year law enforcement veteran, stood at the courtroom rail as Judge David McAndrews ordered $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond. Schreier’s attorney said his father served in the United States Postal Police and with US Customs and Border Protection. As he ruled, McAndrews said “when you’re staring down the barrel of a gun, you are not thinking whether or not that gun is real.”
Asked of the charges against his client, Schreier’s attorney, Howard Schwartz said “Certainly the judge thought it was a substantial charge, but as it plays out and the real facts come to light, it may not be that necessarily what happened.”
Schreier was charged with first-degree criminal impersonation, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, three counts of second-degree forgery, two counts of second-degree menacing and fourth-degree possession of a dangerous weapon.
Soon after his arraignment, Schreier posted $50,000 bond and was shuttled out of the courthouse by four bail bondsmen. His head covered with a coat, Schreier declined to speak with Examiner.com as he left the court. Schreier is due back in court on April 12.
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