SEPTEMBER 4--In a scheme that could only be hatched by a pair of teenage boys, a 17-year-old Floridian yesterday posed as an plainclothes cop and “arrested” his underage buddy for purportedly shoplifting $20 worth of Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards from a Walmart, police report.

The young perps--who hatched the “fake arrest” plot as a cover for swiping four decks of trading cards--were arrested after a suspicious store manager, Laura Dougherty, followed them from the Port St. Lucie retailer and watched as Brandon Rhoads, 17, unlocked a set of toy handcuffs from the wrists of his 14-year-old cohort.

According to a police report, the bizarre incident occurred Monday at around 3 AM. Rhoads, pictured above, entered the Walmart with a “gun in a holster on his hip” and “quickly opened and closed his wallet, showing the 52-year-old Dougherty a badge,” noted investigators.

The teen then approached his friend and “placed handcuffs on him” before walking him out of the store (with the Yu-Gi-Oh! cards). When the duo realized that Dougherty was following them, they fled on foot.

Cops nabbed the duo as they ran through a nearby parking complex. Rhoads was carrying a “black bi fold wallet with a badge” and “a set of ‘toy handcuffs’ silver in color.” Police also retrieved a pellet gun that Rhoads threw while being pursued by officers. The Yu-Gi-Oh! cards were recovered during post-arrest searches of Rhoads and his buddy.

Both suspects copped to stealing the cards and “planning a ‘fake arrest’ in order to ‘not get caught.’”

Rhoads was charged with impersonating a police officer, a felony, and resisting an officer. His friend was charged with retail theft and resisting an officer, both misdemeanors. (2 pages)