Fake cops fire two shots in robbery

NILES – A Cortland man was robbed after being fired at by two gunmen posing as police officers.

The man told police he was leaving his girlfriend’s East Drive apartment Tuesday night when approached by two men wearing dark clothing and masks.

“Police! Don’t run!” they shouted at him.

The victim fled east into a parking lot, and the men fired two shots at him that missed.

The man told police when he tripped and fell, the men pounced on him and put their guns to the back of his head. They took his wallet and laptop computer.

He was ordered to stay where he was, then the gunmen fled to the apartment door the victim had exited.

The victim then ran to a neighboring house to call police.

The girlfriend told police that she had seen the two masked men approach her boyfriend. At that point she closed her apartment door.

Once she was shut inside, she heard the two shots — and then her door was kicked in. She hid in the closet before the gunmen entered; three of her guests went to a rear bedroom.

The woman told police the men were in her apartment for a short time. The report doesn’t indicate that anything was taken.

Meanwhile, police arrested the 37-year-old victim, who was wanted by Warren police on a charge of possession of drugs.