A man sought by Rehoboth police since 2016 was charged Feb. 3 after police say he was selling counterfeit Polar Bear Plunge T-shirts.

Police were working security at noon during the Special Olympics event when they saw a man hold up a T-shirt and try to sell it, said Lt. Jaime Riddle of the Rehoboth Beach Police Department.

When the man saw police, Riddle said, he tried to hide the shirt.

Riddle said police recognized Edward D. Brandt, 58, of Newtown, Pa. from a photo circulated in 2016 that showed Brandt selling counterfeit T-shirts. The T-shirts in the photo are similar to the ones Brandt was trying to sell but the date was changed to Feb. 3, 2019.

Riddle said police found 145 counterfeit Lewes Polar Bear Plunge T-shirts and several hundred dollars during their investigation. Police charged Brandt with displaying and attempting to sell trademark counterfeit merchandise – a felony offense due to a prior conviction in 2005 in Kent County, Delaware – and theft by false promise under $1,500.

Brandt was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.