Man Arrested for Impersonating Police Officer on Tinder and Visiting Schools

Impersonation on Tinder

• 💡 A man named Rico TreShon Dukes created a Tinder profile using the alias "Trayan," claiming to be a deputy with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (BCSO).
• 🎯 His profile featured photos of him in a uniform, with a badge, and even a marked police cruiser, which he used to attract matches.
• ⚠️ One woman who matched with him became suspicious when she couldn't find any colleagues who knew him and began to investigate.

Discovery and Arrest

• 🔍 The BCSO confirmed that Dukes was not employed by them and his profile was fake, leading to an investigation.
• 🚔 Officers located Dukes at a restaurant where he was scheduled to meet a match, arresting him while he was wearing his uniform and carrying a firearm.
• 🚨 During the arrest, officers discovered he was also wanted for unlawfully carrying a deadly weapon on school property.

School Visit and Uniform Acquisition

• 🏫 Dukes had previously visited his alma mater, Volcano Vista High School, in uniform and carrying a firearm, allegedly to see a former teacher.
• 🛍️ He claimed to have purchased the uniform from a store called Kaufman's West, stating he told them it was for promotional videos, though store policy requires a valid department ID.
• ❓ Investigators questioned how he obtained the uniform and patches, as the store manager insisted such a purchase without identification would be impossible.

Interrogation and Motives

• 🗣️ In interrogation, Dukes stated his intention was to make promotional videos for BCSO, though he had not yet recorded any.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 He cited family members who are sheriffs as an inspiration for his interest in law enforcement.
• 📱 Dukes admitted to using his uniform and badge on Tinder and other dating apps, and had matched with 12-14 people, though he claimed he had not met up with anyone in uniform before his arrest.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

• ⚖️ Dukes faced charges including unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises and impersonating a peace officer.
• 👩‍⚖️ Despite the prosecution's portrayal of him as a predator, the judge granted Dukes a deferred sentence of 2.5 years of supervised probation.
• 🔒 His probation includes a GPS monitor for one year, a prohibition on owning authority-indicating clothing, and monitoring of his social media accounts.