Man accused of impersonating police officer during Verona traffic stop arrested

A man wanted by the Verona Police Department has now been arrested after investigators say he falsely claimed to be a police officer.

According to police, 53-year-old Walter Hinton was taken into custody Friday after officers issued a warrant earlier in the day. Authorities say Penn Hills police arrested Hinton when he arrived at work.

Police say the case began just after midnight on March 5th when officers on patrol at the River Town Shopping Center noticed a suspicious vehicle blocking the roadway near a bank. Investigators say the businesses in the area were closed at the time.

"Two officers were patrolling the River Town Shopping Center and noticed a suspicious vehicle. All the businesses were closed. They encountered that vehicle and initially found out it was suspended due to an insurance cancellation," said Verona Police Chief Tom Dessell.

When officers approached the vehicle, they determined it had a suspended registration due to an insurance cancellation. Police say the car belonged to Hinton.

"He produced a badge saying he was a police officer, and during that encounter, he felt that he shouldn't have been stopped because he's a police officer and that he needed to be let go," said Chief Dessell.

Verona Police Chief Tom Dessell says an investigation quickly determined Hinton is not a police officer or a certified officer anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Hinton does work in Penn Hills as a code enforcement officer. Both the Penn Hills Borough and the Penn Hills Police Department declined to comment, citing it as a personnel matter.

Hinton is now facing charges, including impersonating a public official, along with vehicle code violations.