A 21-year-old man who pretended he was a police officer when he confronted two women by the side of a Southeast Portland street after they pulled over so one of them could urinate was sentenced Monday to two years of probation.

The women had left a bar, then stopped by the side of Southeast 122nd Avenue and Market Street at about 3 a.m. last July 29. One of them got out to search for cover to relieve herself. Shortly after that, Seraphin pulled over in his own car and told her she was breaking the law, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by the prosecution.

According to investigators, both women questioned Seraphin because he wasn’t wearing a police uniform and was driving a beat-up car. Seraphin responded by walking to the trunk of his car and showing them a vest with the word “Police” displayed on it, then pulled out a realistic-looking replica handgun and pointed it at the face of one of the women, according to investigators and the affidavit. The replica handgun looked like a Glock 17.

Seraphin also spoke into his phone and told the women that he was talking to police, investigators say. After some time, the women drove away because no “actual police cars were showing up,” the affidavit states.

Multnomah County prosecutor Brian Davidson said Seraphin’s victims were “terrified” by the encounter.

“You can imagine: Late night. It’s dark. They’re pulled over. Someone who purports to be a police officer produces a gun and a vest and holds them essentially at gunpoint,” Davidson said. “... It was a terrible decision that he made that night.”

But Davidson said his office took into account Seraphin’s lack of criminal history in reaching the plea deal. Seraphin aspired to be a police officer and has been involved in the community, Davidson said.

Defense attorney Grant Hartley told the judge that Seraphin also mentors “young kids who are in difficult situations and tries to teach them life experiences.” After Seraphin’s arrest, he told jailers that he volunteered with a Portland Police Bureau program that encouraged nonviolence among boys.

Seraphin pleaded no contest to felony criminal impersonation of a police officer and misdemeanor menacing. If he follows all court orders and doesn’t commit any new crimes in the next year, the felony charge will be dismissed.

Circuit Judge Andrew Lavin followed the terms of a plea agreement by sentencing Seraphin to the two years of probation, plus 40 hours of community service. Seraphin also won’t be allowed to possess any weapons, except for knives while working part-time as a cook in a kitchen.

Seraphin has been attending Portland Community College while living at home with his parents, said his attorney. Seraphin declined comment to The Oregonian/OregonLive after the hearing.

At the time of Seraphin’s arrest, he was certified as an unarmed security officer with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, according to the district attorney’s office.

-- Aimee Green

agreen@oregonian.com

o_aimee

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