Williamsburg man sentenced for impersonating cop while detaining children

Cody Hardin, a 31-year-old Williamsburg man, was sentenced Wednesday for impersonating law enforcement while detaining children.

James City County Police Department issued a statement explaining that Hardin was arrested last October after the office received a call from a person claiming to be an off-duty police officer, and he said he had two juveniles in the Fenwick Hills neighborhood for suspicious activity.

JCCPD said when a real officer arrived on the scene, Hardin was there with juveniles “posing as a law enforcement officer and using a Dodge Charger that shared a resemblance to a police vehicle.”

“The responding officer promptly released the children to their parents,” said JCCPD.

But initially, the responding officer didn’t know Hardin called the police and claimed to be an off-duty officer, and the responding officer didn’t know Hardin had told the children’s parents he was a law enforcement officer, JCCPD explained.

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When the pieces connected and the impersonation claims surfaced, JCCPD said the department launched an investigation and secured charges against Hardin for unlawfully detaining individuals while impersonating a law enforcement officer. Once the secured warrants, two days after the incident, JCCPD announced d Hardin was arrested at his residence on Colony Mill Road. JCCPD also stated they seized the vehicle as evidence.

“Cody Hardin is not, and has never been, a James City County Police Officer,” the department announced publicly.

After entering a guilty plea, this week, Hardin was sentenced to 36 months. That sentence includes 24 months, with 12 months suspended, for two counts of impersonating a law enforcement officer an additional 12 months for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, JCCPD explained.

JCCPD also used the sentencing as an opportunity to remind the public, “impersonating a law enforcement officer is a serious offense that undermines public trust and safety.” Anyone who suspects they are dealing with someone who is impersonating an officer is urged to call 911 immediately, the department said.