Police impersonator sentenced for stealing Alberta Sheriffs equipment

A 25-year-old man who adopted a fake identity and went to other “extraordinary lengths” to convince friends he was a police officer was sentenced for impersonation and possession of stolen Alberta Sheriffs equipment Thursday.

Imran Khan was handed a oneyear conditional sentence order and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service after admitting to pretending to be an Edmonton police officer named “Taylor Kayden.” Court heard he also variously represented himself to be a member of the RCMP and part of a fictitious law enforcement unit he made up.

While handing down the sentence, provincial court Judge Greg Lepp said Khan’s actions, motivated by his “dream,” became an addiction.

After a break-in at an Alberta Sheriffs compound in July 2016 during which about $40,000 worth of equipment was taken, Khan was discovered to be in possession of over $19,000 worth of the stolen gear, including mirrors, light bars, cameras and laptops that mount on dashboards.

He also acquired clothing and badges to dress like a police officer, and created various social media accounts for his fake persona.

In the months following his arrest, Khan breached his release conditions several times, wound up having his bail revoked, and ultimately spent 40 days in jail in pre-trial custody.

He received a combined jail sentence of 60 days for the possession of the stolen property and breach convictions, but was given equivalent credit for time already served.

Khan was also fined $2,000 and handed a one-year driving prohibition for admitting to a count of dangerous driving for a January 2017 high-speed “cat and mouse” race through the city with another driver.

In September, Khan’s friend, Michael Juric, pleaded guilty to committing the break and enter at the compound, and also to police impersonation.

Crown prosecutor Jarrod Hone argued Khan should be sentenced to a total of 115 days in jail, but Khan’s defence lawyer, Akram Attia, pushed for a conditional sentence.

Attia argued his client never used the items he had in his possession or threatened anyone — it was all just part of building his “fantasy life.”

An assessment by a forensic psychologist entered as an exhibit reported Khan developed an interest in policing as early as Grade 6. But when he enrolled in MacEwan University to take courses that would help him to becoming an officer, he received a letter informing him that he was ineligible because his bilateral hearing loss makes him effectively deaf.

Khan also told the psychologist that the May 2015 death of his younger sister, who was killed in a crash involving a drunk driver, was part of what motivated him to want to get into policing.