ONEIDA, N.Y. — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office announced that its investigators on Monday arrested Christopher J. Defazio, 22, of Oneida, and charged him with criminal impersonation in the 1st degree — a felony — after he posed as a deputy sheriff.
The sheriff’s office said in a news release that this is the second time this month that Defazio has been arrested for impersonating a police officer. Sheriff’s deputies first arrested him on Dec. 3, for criminal impersonation in the 2nd degree when he allegedly pretended to be a deputy sheriff.
After the first arrest, the sheriff’s office asked the public to contact the office if they had any information of Defazio impersonating a police officer. On Dec. 7, a victim came forward and filed a police report with the sheriff’s office, per the release.
The unnamed victim reported that on Oct. 11, he was driving on Genesee Street in the City of Oneida, working as a delivery driver, when Defazio “drove his red pickup truck at a high rate of speed behind the victim’s vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on him by activating a siren in his vehicle.” The victim said he pulled his vehicle over into a parking lot, at which point Defazio told the victim that he was an off-duty deputy sheriff.
The sheriff’s office said it conducted an investigation and then arrested Defazio. A search warrant was executed on Defazio’s pickup truck where several police items were found, including handcuffs, police clothing, a siren box with a microphone, speaker, and a PA system, according to the release.
Defazio was ordered to appear at the Oneida City Court on Jan. 18, at 9 a.m. to answer the charge. The sheriff’s office said it is still seeking tips about other alleged incidents of DeFazio impersonating a police officer. Those with information are asked to contact Steve Sellin, investigator, at (315) 366-3009.
Photo credit: Madison County Sheriff’s Office