April 2, 2021
By: Tyler Eckel
WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP (MERCER)– On Thursday March 18, 2021 at 1:36 am, K9 Officer Zicha initiated a stop of a Gray 2016 Nissan on Penn-Lyle Road near West Windsor Plainsboro High School South. The Nissan had a light bar in its rear window with illuminated/activated green and white lights. The Nissan had just completed a stop of an unknown motor vehicle. Further investigation by K9 Officer Zicha revealed that the Nissan was outfitted with police style equipment, such as an operational police scanner, a functional laptop computer fashioned like a police Mobile Data Terminal, various light switches & wiring, and an amber & white light bar in the windshield that had been activated during the “car stop.” Based upon the totality of the circumstances, Daniel P. Pelicano, of East Windsor, was placed under arrest for Impersonating a Police Officer. The Nissan was impounded.
The WWPD Detective Bureau with Det. J. Jones as Lead Detective continued the investigation into this incident as well as attempting to identify any other innocent persons who may have been “stopped” by Pelicano. The continued investigation revealed that Pelicano was in possession of Child Pornography and multiple Search Warrants have been subsequently executed. Det. J. Jones charged Pelicano with Possession of Child Pornography on 3/23/2021. Pelicano was processed at the WWPD and then transported to the Mercer County Workhouse pending a Bail Hearing at the Mercer County Superior Court.
The WWPD and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office are actively seeking any additional potential victims of Pelicano from his police officer imposter car stops. The investigation has been painstaking, methodical, and remains ongoing. If you have any pertinent information please contact Lead Investigator Det. J. Jones at (609) 799-1222, [email protected], or on our Anonymous Tip Line at (609) 799-0452. We have also attached photographs of Pelicano (including his appearance on 3/18/2021 during the initial “car stop”).
Lastly, Chief Garofalo & the WWPD would like to thank our partners at the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office under Angelo Onofri, the Hightstown Police Department, the East Windsor Township Police Department, and the NJ State Police. Each of these agencies played a key role in the continued and extensive investigation of Pelicano.
Daniel P. Pelicano