WILMINGTON — An alleged law enforcement impersonator’s case will go to a jury trial.
On Thursday, Trevor Riley, 30, of Amelia, was told to appear in Clinton County Municipal Court on Jan. 4, 2019 for a jury trial for charges including impersonating a police officer and prohibited acts — both 1st-degree misdemeanors — and two counts of unlawful restraint — a 3rd-degree misdemeanor.
A status hearing is set for Dec. 13.
The charges stem from an April 18 incident where Wilmington police received a report of a black Ford Crown Victoria activating red-and-white emergency lights, and police stopped a vehicle occupied by two adult males and two juveniles.
“During the incident, the driver of the Ford approached the victim’s vehicle and it was noted that he was wearing khaki pants, a black polo shirt, and a pistol in a thigh holster,” according to Wilmington police in a previous press release. “The suspect made a statement about the victim following him too closely and, due to having another ‘call to go to’, the suspect was giving him a warning.”
The victim was suspicious about the stop and took a photo of the suspect’s license plate, which led to authorities identifying Riley.
It was learned that Trevor Riley was providing armed private security guard services to the Prairie View Apartments in Wilmington, police said, and his business was operating under the name Private Protection Services, registered under the Ohio Secretary of State business listings, in his name. He had also installed a prescription medication disposal box at the property.
The investigation revealed neither Riley nor Private Protection Services were licensed through the Ohio Department of Public Safety-Private Investigator Security Guard Services as required by Ohio law adding that he was also not authorized to collect medication for disposal, according to Ohio State Board of Pharmacy and Drug Enforcement Administration guidelines.
Wilmington Police/Warren County Drug Task Force Detective Scott Baker, members of the Warren County Drug Task Force, and members of the Brown County Major Crimes Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the residence of Trevor Riley.
“During the search, several handguns, a box containing prescription medications, potential items of drug abuse, and other items related to the investigation were seized,” according to Wilmington police.
Trevor Riley is on active probation through Clermont County Common Pleas Court for an original charge of aggravated possession of drugs, police said, and his probation officer has been notified of the charges filed and other activities associated with the investigation.
According to the probation officer, they will not file a probation violation until the case is complete, according to WPD.
