JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — A 31-year-old man was sentenced to three years in jail after he impersonated a law enforcement officer and unlawfully detained three juveniles.
On Oct. 12, 2023, police responded to a concerned resident. Officers found that Cody Hardin was pretending to be a police officer and wrongfully detaining juveniles.
According to police, Hardin used a Dodge Charger that resembled a police vehicle. The responding officer promptly released the children to their parents but was unaware, at the time, that Hardin claimed to be an off-duty police officer and had presented himself to the parents of the children as a JCC police officer.
On Feb. 5, 2025, Hardin was sentenced to 36 months in jail following his guilty plea to charges stemming from an October 2023 arrest. Hardin was sentenced to 24 months, with 12 months suspended, for two counts of Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer (§ 18.2-174) and an additional 12 months for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (§ 18.2-371).
If being stopped by an unmarked vehicle, drive to a well-lit, public location before pulling over.
Look for official markings such as a badge, uniform, and department-issued identification.
Remain in your vehicle and request the officer’s name and agency.
Report all suspicious encounters to local law enforcement as soon as possible. Trust your instincts.
