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BREAKING NEWS

Police Seek Additional Victims

Witnesses of suspected peace officer Impersonator

Posted

The recent arrest of a man suspected of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer has prompted Las Cruces police to ask residents for information on similar incidents involving the same individual.

Aaron Tyler Stroud, 38, of the 2100 block of Mars Avenue in the Four Hills Neighborhood, is charged with one federal count of impersonating a public official. He was arrested Monday and is currently being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.

Stroud was also arrested in 2003 on charges of impersonating a peace officer and carrying a firearm in a licensed liquor establishment.

In the most recent known incident, about midnight on Sunday, Sept. 29, Stroud allegedly confronted a couple who were having an argument inside a car on Mars Avenue. Stroud was armed with a gun, carrying a badge and wearing a T-shirt marked “U.S. Marshal.” Stroud allegedly ordered the couple, at gunpoint, to step away from their vehicle. He’s also accused of firing one round into the air shortly before a Las Cruces police officer came upon the scene.

The LCPD officer questioned Stroud who identified himself as a U.S. Marshal who recently moved to Las Cruces. He also identified himself using the name of an actual deputy marshal who works out of El Paso. Stroud walked away from the scene as LCPD officers searched for a shell casing from a round Stroud allegedly fired into the air during his encounter with the couple.

Upon further investigation, and after consulting with the U.S. Marshals Office, police determined Stroud was impersonating a federal law enforcement officer.

Police believe Stroud was possibly impersonating a peace officer on numerous other occasions and likely in his own neighborhood of Mars Avenue, Venus Street and near the Willow Brook Apartments. A resident of the neighborhood contacted police in early August and indicated he saw a suspicious man – who was dressed as and acting like a police officer – walking the neighborhood during the evening hours. Police now believe that suspicious man was Stroud.

Anyone with information on Stroud’s activities, or anyone who may have been confronted by Stroud or someone portraying themself to be a law enforcement officer, is asked to call Las Cruces police at 575-526-0795.

police impersonator, Aaron Tyler Stroud

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