The Montgomery County Police Department arrested and charged Joshua Taber, 38, of Virginia for impersonating a police officer. He also faces multiple firearm related charges.
On May 10, 2022, detectives with the Vice and Intelligence Unit observed a black Chevrolet Tahoe while conducting surveillance at the Rockville Hotel located at 3 Research Court. The vehicle appeared to be an unmarked police vehicle, according to authorities.
In an attempt to ensure they were not hindering another police investigation, detectives contacted the hotel to determine who the vehicle belonged to.
Police determined the vehicle belonged to Taber who identified himself as an “agent” at the check-in desk. “He displayed what hotel staff believed to be law enforcement identification and stated that his “government issued vehicle” needed to be parked in front of the hotel. Through further investigation, it was determined that Taber was not an “agent” and falsely identified himself as such,” according to a press release.
Officers obtained an search warrant for Taber’s hotel room where they found multiple ID cards with the title “special agent”‘ and multiple firearms.
A separate search warrant for Taber’s vehicle revealed multiple firearms, including a ghost gun. “The search also revealed various pieces of police paraphernalia, a ballistic vest, multiple holsters, magazines and ammunition,” MCPD said.
