Hamilton man facing charges after impersonating a police officer

On Monday May 2, 2016, shortly before 1:00am, a man entered a taxi in the area of Parkdale Avenue North and Melvin Avenue.

While inside the taxi, the man indicated he was a police officer and directed the man to drive him to the area of King Street East and Centennial Parkway.

During the drive the man then made requests for other stops and made additional comments that lead the driver to suspect that the man was not a police officer. The man also displayed and held a handgun during the requests causing the driver to become even more concerned and fearful.

Police located the taxi in the area of Centennial Parkway and Beach Boulevard and initiated a traffic stop. The man was arrested without incident and found to be in possession of a handgun that was determined to be a pellet gun.

Further investigation revealed that the man was wanted by police and was breaching a probation order. Police opposed the man’s bail and he is now before the courts to answer to the charges.

Eric Kuijvenhoven, 27, of Hamilton has been charged with personating a peace officer, fail to comply with recognizance, assault with a weapon.