Police: Whitehouse man impersonated officer

8/29/2012
BLADE STAFF

Toledo police have charged a Whitehouse man with impersonating an officer after they say he misidentified himself at headquarters downtown.

Joseph Ritenour, 61, of 5210 S. Berkey Southern Rd. is also charged with providing false information to an officer, criminal trespassing, and disorderly conduct. Tuesday in Toledo Municipal Court, he was ordered to be freed from the Lucas County jail. His case was continued until today at 1 p.m.

Two police officers said they stopped a man Monday night at the Safety Building and found him opening doors to police cars. When they stopped the man, he reportedly said he worked for the department and his name was Lieutenant Collins. Toledo police Sgt. Joe Heffernan said there is a Lt. Mark Collins in the department.