Deputy investigated in fake cop ruse

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department sergeant has been suspended with pay while investigators look into her involvement with a man accused of pretending to be a sheriff's deputy.

Orlando Jaramillo, 35, was arrested last week after Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies said he defrauded a company out of thousands of dollars in equipment that he used to customize his car to look like a real patrol car.

Jaramillo came to AEP North America, a North Valley business that outfits real cop cars, claiming he was a former New Mexico State Police officer and a current BCSO Reserve Deputy, investigators said.

"They assumed he was being honest, so they did the work," Sgt. Sid Covington with BCSO said.

Covington said Jaramillo was with a real deputy on one of his visits to get his phony patrol car tricked out.

That deputy, Sgt. Renee Ullrich, has been suspended while investigators figure out why she was with Jaramillo.

BCSO does not know, or is not saying, if she knew what the bogus lawman was up to.

Investigators caught on to Jamamillo after an AEP manager called the sheriff's department wondering when he was going to get paid.

Last Thursday, deputies followed Jaramillo as he sped past traffic with his police lights on and then arrested him after he pulled over a real detective who was in an unmarked car, according to a criminal complaint.

"I dont know what his intentions were," Covington said. "But he was acting as a law enforcement officer which is very very serious."

Jaramillo faces charges of fraud, false imprisonment and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon because he approached that detective's car with his hand on a loaded gun..

Covington said more charges could be added as the investigation continues.

Deputies said since this story surfaced, they have gotten calls from people saying Jaramillo pulled them over too.

They believe more victims are out there.