SAN ANTONIO — Authorities said the search for a suspect has ended. He is accused of claiming to be a San Antonio police officer, forcing his way into a home.
Previously, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office said on May 21, Salvatore Alfieri IV was wearing police insignia and carrying a handgun. He went up to a home in west Bexar County and told the people inside he was an SAPD officer.
Sheriff Javier Salazar held a press conference on Sunday afternoon to share more details. He said the incident happened on Friday evening, and because authorities were unable to locate him that day and Saturday, they felt they needed to share his photo and the incident details with the public.
"We're lucky to have him in custody where he can't harm anybody else," Sheriff Salazar said on Sunday.
Sheriff Salazar said the suspect appeared "comfortable" when he told his false story to the woman who opened the door out of fear. Sheriff Salazar said he fears it's "not his first time ever doing this...but I believe it will be his last time."
"He knew just enough about the male that was not there at the time to give the female a convincing story on why he was there," Sheriff Salazar added.
Alfieri reportedly demanded he enter the home, saying he worked for "probation" and needed to search the premise for “contraband.”
The suspect forced the victims to comply with his demands and took their cellphones while holding a gun. He also took a large sum of cash and other items before taking off in a Ford Escape, which was later identified through images obtained from various security cameras.
According to Salazar, Alfieri rented the vehicle through an app and it was dropped off to the owner minutes after the burglary occurred. The woman called for help when he left.
Sheriff Salazar said Alfieri was waiting for a ride through a rideshare app near a motel at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and Southcross when SAPD got to the location before BCSO did.
A large amount of cash, marijuana and methamphetamine was found on Alfieri, who the sheriff's office says lied about his identity to the police.
"This guy was acting as if he was a real cop, not counting on the fact that real cops are usually much better at this sort of thing," Sheriff Salazar said.
Normally, uniformed or undercover officers do not arrive at a house alone and remind people to ask an officer for a search warrant or ID if they suspect someone may be posing as an officer.
Here are the photos BCSO shared:
"We urge the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity," BCSO said.
Sheriff Salazar advised people to not let someone in if they do not have a search warrant. You should also ask for photo ID if they are in plain clothes passing themselves off as an officer.
See BCSO's Facebook post here.
The following are the charges and warrants filed against the suspect:
- Unlawful restraint
- Interference with emergency telephone call
- Impersonating public servant
- Burg hab-intent commit felony