Man charged with impersonating public servant

KAILUA-KONA — Protect and serve was more than a motto for a man recently arrested for posing as an officer.

The 19-year-old suspected of being a wannabe police officer and firefighter didn’t just parade around in uniform, either. He’s accused of directing traffic during a brush fire and installing police-style equipment on his vehicle that he apparently used in an attempt to pull over a motorist, according to law enforcement.

Michael Kaleiolani Rangasan of Waikoloa is charged with impersonating a public servant, making a false statement and three counts of impersonating a police officer. He was arrested at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Waikoloa Village, according to police records, and posted $2,500 bail.

The first charge stemmed from a Nov. 17, 2014, incident when Rangasan claimed to be a firefighter with Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Chris Loos, media relations officer with the Hawaii Police Department, wrote in an email.

Rangasan then went to the Kona police station the following day to alter his statement, claiming he actually was with the park’s search and rescue service.

The apparently aspiring civil servant cropped back on real police radar from incidents this year.

At about 5 p.m. Feb. 25, police say Rangasan flashed a badge at a man driving on Palani Road. Both were driving at the time when Rangasan turned on blue and white lights on his car and showed the badge, Loos said.

The man, however, apparently didn’t buy the reported imposter and didn’t pull over.

Rangasan also was charged in two separate incidents June 14.

The first occurred when he told a woman at a resort on Kaleiopapa Street that he was an officer. His motive for doing so was unclear, Loos said. Later that day, Rangasan told firefighters at an incident near mile marker 16 on Highway 190 that he was an off-duty officer and began to help direct traffic.

Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.