Weapons Cache Allegedly Found At Home Of Suspected Cop Impersonator

SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA.com) — A Simi Valley man accused of impersonating an LAPD officer was in custody after a cache of assault rifles, smoke grenades and other weapons was allegedly found at his residence, authorities said Wednesday.

Jeffrey Edmonds, 37, was arrested Tuesday at his home on Royal Avenue in Simi Valley following an investigation into a reported theft at a local firearms manufacturer in the unincorporated area of Castaic, according to Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's deputies.

The business owner told detectives that two brand new upper receivers used to build AR-15 rifles were stolen from the business, authorities said.

After Edmonds was identified as a suspect in the theft, detectives determined he had also identified himself as a sworn peace officer and a captain with the LAPD, according to investigators.

Detectives then contacted the Los Angeles Police Department to notify them of this incident and learned that the badge and identification card used by Edmonds was counterfeit and he was not a sworn police officer.

A search warrant was served at Edmonds' residence, where authorities recovered the alleged stolen upper receivers along with numerous bullet proof vests, large quantities of ammunition, a large number of firearms (including handguns and rifles, and illegal assault weapons), ballistic helmets, a flash bang grenade, a smoke grenade, a sting ball grenade, and a CS gas grenade, along with a counterfeit LAPD Captain's badge and identification, gas masks, and other tactical types of equipment.

Edmonds was booked at Santa Clarita Valley Station on charges relating to grand theft, impersonating a peace officer, and weapons violations. He is currently being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.