Largo Man Facing More Charges of Impersonating An Officer
Posted: March 21, 2016
A Largo Man was now arrested for the fourth time for impersonating an officer with an added charge of aggravated assault.
Todd Jeffrey Blumencranz, age 35 of Largo, was first arrested in the morning of Saturday, March 19, 2016 by Largo Police Officers. Reports indicate that Blumencranz approached a citizen in the area of the Madison at Largo Apartment Complex located at 601 Rosary Road. This is the same apartment complex where he resides.
He introduced himself to a citizen as Todd Miller, a Narcotics Deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) according to arrest documentation. He asked the citizen to follow him out to his undercover, unmarked cruiser.
He began asking the citizen if they saw or heard anything suspicious in regards to recent auto burglaries in the area. For his actions, he was arrested by an officer from the Largo Police Department and stated he did not really have a reason for doing this except wanting to look cool and beyond that there was no other reason.
Blumencranz also admitted to falsely personating a PCSO Deputy before in an attempt to receive a discount for a hair cut. He is facing charges of Falsely Personating an Officer which is a 3rd Degree Felony. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail at 12:20 PM on Saturday, March 19, 2016 and was released later the same day at 3:24 PM after posting a $5,000 bail.
The following morning on Sunday, March 20th, Blumencranz attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling in the 15700 block of US Hwy 19 in Clearwater. He was traveling in a 2007 silver Nissan (FL Tag BMNI13) with tinted windows and a red flashing light on the dash according to arrest documentation. The woman he was attempting to pull over was driving a 2015 yellow Ford Mustang. Both the woman and her passenger assumed he was a police officer as he pulled behind the woman at a high rate of speed.
Blumencranz once again was arrested by an officer from Largo Police Department. He admitted to following the Mustang at a high rate of speed over 100 MPH. He is facing charges of Falsely Personating an Officer which is a 3rd Degree Felony. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail at 9:11 AM on Sunday, March 20, 2016 and was released later the same day at 6:16 PM after posting a $5,000 bail.
On Thursday, March 31, 2016, Clearwater Police arrested Blumecranz for an incident that occurred on March 17, 2016.
He stands accused of pulling over a woman for speeding on her way to work at the intersection of Belcher Road and Nursery Road.
According to CPD, the woman told officers that she was pulled over by a silver car that had red and white lights on the mirror and dashboard. The man told her he was an off-duty police officer on his way to work, took her license back to his car and also pretended to communicate via an earpiece. He also had a clipboard with him.
The would-be officer told her he was going to let her off with a warning.
The woman contacted police once she got to work. She later positively identified Blumencranz from a photo pack as the one who pulled her over.
In addition, last night the Largo Police submitted two charging affidavits on Blumencranz for an incident that had occurred on East Bay Dr near Belcher Rd on March 18th, 2016 at approximately 7:15 AM. The charges stem from an incident where Blumencranz is reported to have attempted to affect a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by a twenty seven year old female.
Blumencranz is accused of following the victim with a flashing red and white light on the dashboard of a 2007 Nissan Altima. When the victim would not pull over, Blumencranz is said to have pulled up along side of the victim’s vehicle and instructed her to pull over. The victim did not pull over, but she advised Largo Police officers that the vehicle was being driven recklessly and changing speed causing her to fear that he might striker her with his car, which resulted in an aggravated assault charge. The Nissan did eventually drive away without the victim stopping. He was arrested for one count of Falsely Personating and Officer, and one count of Aggravated Assault. Largo Police Department was provided with a cell phone video of the incident but it can not be released at this time as the case is active and has yet to be presented to the State Attorney’s Office.
Blumencranz posted a $20,000 bail in the early morning hours of April 1, 2016.
If a vehicle attempting to pull you over is not a clearly marked police cruiser you should slow down to indicate you are not trying to get away. Signal your intent to pull over but only do so when you can find a well-lit, public place with other people around, such as a shopping mall parking lot. Ask for credentials while staying in your vehicle, keeping your doors locked and only crack the window enough to pass your driver’s license, insurance card and registration through.
If you have concerns about the traffic stop immediately dial 911. Tell them that you have been pulled over by someone who claims to be a police officer but that you think he might not be a real law enforcement officer. Give them your exact location and stay on the line.