Buffalo Grove police charge alleged fire, police impostors

Two men have been charged by Buffalo Grove police this month with pretending to be something they're not: firefighters and police officers.

Cary Michael Aiello, 39, of 300 Inwood Drive, Apt. 11, Wheeling, is scheduled to appear Nov. 19 in Lake County Court, Waukegan, on charges of false impersonation, stemming from a Nov. 3 traffic stop at the intersection of state Route 83 and Lucinda Drive in Buffalo Grove.

Police charged Aiello after he allegedly identified himself as a firefighter and paramedic for the Niles Fire Department.

Although police said that Aiello repeatedly referred to a name plate and a silver shield, of the type police reported are commonly used by firefighters, he couldn't produce the government commission card that firefighters carry. He eventually admitted that he wasn't a firefighter, police said, and he was arrested and charged.

Aiello was also charged with unlawful use of a weapon, after police reportedly discovered an open switchblade in the car.

In another incident, Jeffrey Hiroshi Fujimoto, 44, of 933 W. Wolfram, Apt. 3, Chicago, is scheduled to appear Nov. 20 in Lake County Branch Court, Mundelein, on charges of illegally using flashing lights and violating vehicle equipment rules, as well as speeding, following a Nov. 4 incident on Lake-Cook Road east of Hastings Drive.

Police who stopped Fujimoto for speeding reported discovering that he had a black box with four buttons on it installed near the drive's seat. All four buttons, when pressed, simulated sounds resembling police horns and sirens, police said, and the vehicle also sported flashing lights.

Fujimoto acknowledged not being a police officer, police said, and he insisted he only used the installed lights and sirens in the car.

The arresting officer reported that Fujimoto's car looked like an unmarked police car.