Texting while driving lands cop impersonators behind bars

BRONX (WABC) -- Text messaging landed two men behind bars in New York City, accused of pretending to be police officers from New Jersey.

Two officers from the South Bronx pulled over a vehicle Tuesday after they noticed the driver, 25-year-old Felix Camacho, was texting.

That's when they saw he had a gun at his hip and a Passaic County Sheriff's shield around his neck.

Camacho allegedly identified himself as a police officer and gave a fake name.

The passenger, 24-year-old Gregory Ladson, also wore a shield.

But when the officers checked, they learned the badges and guns were stolen from a retired cop.

The officers recovered from the vehicle a stolen Walther .380 semi-automatic firearm and a magazine containing six bullets belonging to the retired police officer.

Camacho and Ladson are charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal impersonation of a police officer, criminal possession of stolen property. Additionally, Camacho is charged with aggravated unlicensed operator.