Troopers arrest three, seize counterfeit money
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE 2017
Three New York men who claimed to be rappers enroute to a show with a fake cop at the wheel were arrested after they fled from state troopers in a car that had police lights, a police scanner, and thousands of dollars in counterfeit cash in it, police said.
The chase began Monday about 11 p.m. on Interstate 93 in Wilmington when state police spotted an Acura with New York plates speeding and changing lanes.
“The Acura was changing between the middle and the left lane at speeds estimated to be greater than 110 mph, and other vehicles, believing it to be a police vehicle, were moving out of the way,” police said.
The trooper ran the car’s plates and determined it was not a police car and started the pursuit. After 10 miles, the car pulled over on Interstate 495 in Chelmsford. The men were pulled out and said they were rappers.
“The driver then stated that the men were from New York and were going to do a show,” police said. “Trooper observed that the Acura had flashing blue lights in the front and the back.”
The driver, Kevin Portalatin, 27, of the Bronx, who claimed to be a volunteer police officer, is charged with impersonating a police officer, unlawful use of blue lights, possession of counterfeit notes, failure to stop for police, speeding, and marked lanes violation. The two passengers, Samuel E. Morales, 38, and Yefri AriasRodriguez, 22, also of the Bronx, were each charged with possession of counterfeit notes.