A Long Island man who allegedly pretended to be a federal air marshal when he was pulled over was arrested after authorities say they found a loaded pistol and assault rifle in his car, along with a knife, a ballistic body armor vest and a tactical vest containing three high capacity magazines.

Mark Vicars, 49, was driving on Jericho Turnpike in Syosset around 7:40 a.m. Thursday when Special Investigation Squad detectives, in a joint investigation with the Joint Terrorism Task Force's New York office and the Transportation Security Administration, initiated a traffic stop.

Vicars pulled his Dodge Durango over to the side of the road and activated emergency lights, policy say. He then produced a fake shield and identification credentials indicating he was a federal air marshal.

Authorities found the guns and armor in his car during the stop, they say. While executing a search warrant at Vicars' home in Syosset later, detectives recovered five other weapons, including two handguns and a Smith & Wesson revolver, along with 8,300 rounds of assorted ammunition.

Police say there is no nexus to terror and no immediate threat. Their investigation is ongoing.

Vicars, who works as a personal fitness trainer, was charged with multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument.



He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday. Vicars' Legal Aid attorney said his client "adamantly denies the allegations" and said all the weapons recovered by authorities are lawfully owned.