NY Bishop Accused of Impersonating Cop, Reckless Driving

A volunteer bishop with the New York Police Department is accused of impersonating a police officer and driving recklessly on Interstate 95 North in Greenwich Wednesday evening.

Connecticut State police said they received several 911 calls about a Nissan SUV with New York license plates that had emergency lights on near exit 3 in Greenwich just after 6:45 p.m., police said.

The vehicle passed other drivers, tailgated and weaved back and forth between lanes on the highway, state police said.

The driver, identified as 47-year-old Popeye Whittingham, of Harlem, then passed state troopers who were dealing with separate crashes on I-95 North at exit 17, state police said.

State police stopped Wittingham and found the car's registration was expired.

Whittingham led state police to believe he was a New York City police officer and showed a detective badge, according to a news release from state police.

When police investigated further, they said they learned that Whittingham is a volunteer bishop with the 32nd precinct and has no police powers.

They said he also has several aliases and an arrest history, which includes criminal attempt to commit murder and weapons violations charges in New York State.

He posted $2,500 bond and is due in court in Norwalk on May 3.

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