Somers man charged after allegedly posing as FBI agent at Playland

SOMERS, N.Y. - A Somers man already facing multiple felony charges stemming from an alleged fabricated shooting incident in May was arrested again over the July 4 weekend after authorities said he falsely claimed to be an FBI agent while visiting Playland Park.

According to a social media post from the Westchester County Police Department, John Fiore, 47, was charged with first-degree criminal impersonation, a felony, following an incident at Playland Park on Saturday, July 4.

Police said that at approximately 5:45 p.m., several undercover officers assigned to Playland spoke with Fiore after noticing his dog wearing a tan vest with a K9 patch featuring a blue line and other law enforcement-style insignia.

According to police, Fiore told the officers that he and his dog had recently been shot in the line of duty. He reportedly removed a knee brace to display a wound before lifting his shirt to reveal a gold shield attached to his waistband, claiming he was with the FBI. Fiore also allegedly told officers that his dog had bitten and killed the person who shot them.

After Fiore returned to the Tiki Bar restaurant, an employee provided officers with a business card Fiore had been distributing for a dog-walking business bearing his name.

Police said investigators were unable to locate any record of an FBI agent named John Fiore or any reports involving the recent shooting of an FBI agent or law enforcement canine.

Officers also discovered that Fiore had been arrested by New York State Police in May after allegedly fabricating a shooting outside his Somers home. During that investigation, authorities determined Fiore's gunshot wound was self-inflicted and that no intruder had been involved.

According to police, officers then located Fiore inside the Tiki Bar and escorted him to the Playland precinct. As they walked, Fiore allegedly knocked the shield from his waistband and attempted to kick it out of sight.

Fiore was charged with first-degree criminal impersonation and is scheduled to appear in Rye City Court on July 14.

In the earlier case, New York State Police responded to Fiore's Narcissus Drive home shortly after midnight on May 8 after he reported being shot by an unknown man at his front door. Investigators later concluded the wound was self-inflicted and executed a search warrant at the residence, where they allegedly recovered numerous firearms, including two reported stolen weapons, psilocybin mushrooms and multiple baggies containing a white powdery substance.

Fiore was subsequently charged with second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, seven counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, six counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, additional controlled substance offenses and falsely reporting an incident.