Aurora man charged with impersonating police officer

An Aurora man has been charged with impersonating a police officer to steal gas earlier this month in the west suburb.

Jesus E. Avilas, 36, was charged with one count of personating a police officer, according to Aurora police.

About 7 a.m. Oct. 3, Avilas went into a gas station in the 1000 block of North Lake Street in Aurora and requested the clerk activate one of the pumps, according to police.

The clerk hesitated because the pumps are pre-pay only, but Avilas produced a badge from his wallet and identified himself as a U.S. Marshal, according to police. He said that his credit card was in his car.

The clerk activated the pump, and Avilas pumped about $37 worth of gas into his vehicle before driving away west on Northpark Avenue, police said. As he was driving away, the clerk wrote down the license plate and called police.

An investigator assigned to the U.S. Marshals Great Lake Fugitive Task Force spotted a vehicle parked outside Avilas’ building in the 300 block of East New York Street in Aurora that matched the one used in the gas theft, police said. Avilas was arrested when he tried to enter his vehicle.

During a search of Avilas’ home, police found a badge similar to the one used in the theft, along with a replica handgun and several other pieces of police-related paraphernalia, police said.

Investigators believe he may have attempted other ruses and ask anyone who may have witnessed him impersonating an officer to call Aurora police at (630) 256-5500.