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Former Asbury Park police officer Derrick Parreott was indicted today on charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer, according to a news release issued by acting Monmouth County prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Parreott was officially terminated as an Asbury Park police officer in February, 2011, the release stated. The indictment alleges that Parreott identified himself as a law enforcement officer in February 2012 during a motor vehicle stop in Howell Township.

The full news release from the prosecutor’s office:

On August 13, 2012, a Monmouth County grand jury returned an indictment charging Derrick Parreott, 45, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, with impersonating a law enforcement officer. The indictment follows an investigation conducted by the Howell Township police department, the Asbury Park police department and the Monmouth County prosecutor’s office.

That investigation revealed that Derrick Parreott, a former Asbury Park police officer, was stopped for a motor vehicle violation by a Howell Township Police Officer in the area of West Aldrich Road and Margaret Lane in Howell Township, New Jersey, on February 14, 2012. While speaking to the Howell officer during the traffic stop, and knowing that he was no longer employed as a law enforcement officer, Parreott unlawfully identified himself as an Asbury Park police officer and presented credentials to that effect. The investigation also established that Parreott was officially terminated by the City of Asbury Park on February 14, 2011, exactly one year prior to the instant offense, for administrative reasons.

The charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer is a fourth degree crime; the maximum potential custodial sentence for a fourth degree crime is a state prison term of up to 18 months. In addition to the fourth degree charge, Parreott was charged with the following motor vehicle violations, no inspection decal, improper passing on the right shoulder and failure to make repairs.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all the trial rights guaranteed by the United States constitution and state law.

This case is assigned to assistant prosecutor Gregory J. Schweers. Mr. Parreott is represented by Kevin Wigenton, Esq., of Red Bank, New Jersey.

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