"By invoking a fear of violence and the authority of a badge and uniform, he manipulated these people," Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said. "They had no reason to doubt his ability to follow through on his threats or challenge what they logically interpreted as the legal authority of a law enforcement officer." Terry, who lived in various places in Suffolk County, including Holbrook, Islip and Mastic, was accosting people as a police officer since at least 2005, prosecutors said. He had all the right accessories to impersonate a police officer: an authentic-looking uniform, a car with lights and sirens, a pair of handcuffs.