Huntley man charged with impersonating Chicago cop

A 50-year-old Huntley man posed as a Chicago police officer Thursday to chase away two men who were in a dispute with him over his car, police alleged Friday.

Philip J. Casale, 10775 Wing Pointe Drive, is charged with false impersonation of a police officer as a result of the incident and could face up to three years in prison if found guilty of the felony charge.

"He had an altercation with some people over his vehicle and during the altercation he told them he was a police officer and showed them (false) credentials," Deputy Police Chief Todd Fulton said.

Casale denied the allegations Friday and described the dispute between he and the two men as a misunderstanding.

"Anybody can say anything about anybody these days and get away with it," Casale said. "I can assure you that I never said those things and I have witnesses who were with me at the time who will testify in court to that effect."

The incident, Casale said, occurred at about 7 a.m. Thursday when a neighbor called him about two unknown men sitting in a car outside his home. Casale said he approached the men, which set off the altercation.

"Next thing I know, the police are there," he said.

Fulton said he could not disclose the exact nature of the dispute, but described it as a civil law matter. At no time did the altercation turn physical, he said, and Casale never displayed a weapon or imply that he had one.

Casale was released on $5,000 bond Friday with a Court date on Thursday.