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Man arrested with multiple guns and fake law enforcement badge in Clear Creek County

Brian Cope car contents

Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man with multiple guns, a fake federal law enforcement badge and tactical armor Monday afternoon.

Deputies arrested 40-year-old Brian Cope on Monday on suspicion of possession of a weapon by a previous offender, impersonating a peace officer, violation of a protection order and four other charges after finding his vehicle in an empty parking lot, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

Around 4:30 p.m., deputies noticed a suspicious vehicle in a dirt lot in Silver Plume — a small town around 50 miles west of Denver.

The vehicle had fake plates and a VIN number that was intentionally damaged, according to the release.

Investigators were eventually able to determine the VIN and connected the vehicle to Cope, who had an extraditable warrant for failure to comply out of Summit County, Ohio. 

Deputies were also notified of an alert indicating Cope has violent tendencies and should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.

While researching the warrant, a man walked out of a nearby trail toward the police. He then allegedly stopped and placed an item behind a rock.

The man was identified as Cope and was arrested on the Summit County warrant.

Behind the rock was a loaded 9mm handgun and in the car, deputies found a loaded, short-barreled rifle with no serial number, six high-capacity magazines, numerous boxes of ammunition, a Kevlar tactical vest with metal plates, a tactical helmet, a police scanner, a federal law enforcement replica badge, burglary tools and drug paraphernalia.

Cope was then arrested on suspicion of the seven aforementioned charges. 

The 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office will determine the official charges following investigation.

Cope is due in a Clear Creek County district court on Dec. 24.

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