Media Release from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office of New Jersey- Two Men Arrested, Charged with Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer & Robbery in Camden & Gloucester Counties.
Two men have been arrested and charged for impersonating law enforcement officers during multiple robberies and other incidents following a multijurisdictional investigation, announced Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay, Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins, Lindenwold Police Chief Michael McCarthy, Jr., Winslow Township Police Chief Donald Lemons, Deptford Township Police Chief Joseph J. Smith, and Washington Township Police Chief Patrick Gurcsik.
Shanndoah Gray, 48, of Lindenwold, and Michael Ficara, 39, of Mount Royal, were charged with multiple counts of second-degree Robbery and other offenses for incidents across Gloucester Township, Lindenwold, Winslow, Deptford Township, and Washington Township.
The first incident occurred on September 19, 2023 at approximately 9:00 p.m. when two suspects, later identified as Gray and Ficara, used a red sedan to pull over a victim on Little Gloucester Road in Gloucester Township. The suspects approached the victim and identified themselves as police officers. One of the suspects then grabbed the victim by the shirt and stole cash from him.
On September 28, 2023, at approximately 4:45 a.m., two suspects, later identified as Gray and Ficara, attempted to stop a vehicle on Waterford Road and Route 73 in Winslow. The victim pulled over and was approached by the suspects who identified themselves as police officers and claimed the victim was a suspect in the robbery. The victim advised he wasn't comfortable and requested a marked unit be present, resulting in the suspects fleeing the area.
Later the same day, at approximately 9:05 p.m., two suspects, later identified as Gray and Ficara, attempted to stop an occupied vehicle parked behind the Kohl's Plaza in Washington Township. The suspects flashed their high beams at the victims in an attempt to stop them, yelled at the victims to turn off the car, and displayed a badge. The victims subsequently drove away. Video captured of the incident showed the suspects’ vehicle was a red Ford Taurus. Detective later learned the Ficara owns a red Ford Taurus. Shortly thereafter, the suspects then burglarized a nearby unoccupied vehicle and stole a wallet with credit cards inside.
Later that night, at approximately 10:46 p.m., Deptford Township Police responded to a report of two suspects approaching an occupied vehicle at Almonesson Creek Park in Deptford. The suspects, later identified as Gray and Ficara, identified themselves as police officers and attempted to question the driver. The victim did not believe the suspects, called 911, and drove out of the park.
On September 30, 2023, at approximately 9:44 p.m., Lindenwold Police responded to the 700 block of E. Elm Avenue for the report of possible police impersonators. Upon arrival, officers located two male victims who reported that they were approached by two male suspects, later identified as Gray and Ficara, who were dressed like plain clothes officers. The suspects searched the victims and stole money from them. When one of the victims confronted the two suspects, one of the suspects displayed a small handgun.
During the investigation, detectives from the Washington Township Police Department obtained surveillance video of the suspects attempting to use a credit card stolen from the vehicle burglary at an area grocery store. The suspects in the video were ultimately identified as Gray and Ficara.
Gray was arrested in Lindenwold on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, by the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force. Ficara is currently in custody in Salem County Jail on unrelated charges.
Gray and Ficara have been charged with the following offenses in connection to investigations in the following locations:
• 2 counts of second-degree Robbery
• 1 count of fourth degree Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer
• 1 count of fourth-degree Possession of an Imitation Firearm
• 1 count of second-degree Robbery
• 1 count of fourth-degree Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer
• 1 count of second-degree Robbery
• 1 count of fourth-degree Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer
• 1 count of fourth degree Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer
• 1 count of third-degree Burglary
• 1 count of fourth-degree Credit Card Theft
• 1 count of third-degree Theft of an Access Device (debit card)
• 1 count of third-degree Fraudulent Use of Credit Cards
• 1 count of fourth-degree Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer
• 1 count of fourth-degree Harassment
Anyone with information or who may have been a victim of a similar incident is asked to contact Detective Ryan Durham the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (856) 225-5127 and their local police department. Tips can also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.
All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
https://www.camdencountypros.org/news/article/1008
