Police: Man impersonates priest, visits officer

[July 16, 2009]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A 26-year-old Philadelphia man suspected of impersonating a priest while visiting a wounded police officer was arrested on Monday.

The man was charged with criminal trespass and false impersonating. Investigators said he posed as a Roman Catholic priest last month and entered a hospital's intensive care unit to visit Officer Richard Hayes.

Officials from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said the one-time seminary student also attended funerals for slain officers and presented himself as part of the religious community but not a priest. Church officials call the matter deeply disturbing.

Hayes was struck by another vehicle during a traffic stop. He remains hospitalized.

[Associated Press]

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