On the evening of Oct. 14, 2023, Cody Hardin, a 30-year-old resident of James City County, was taken into custody by James City County Police and is now facing the following charges:
- § 18.2-47 Abduction/Kidnapping
- § 18.2-174 Impersonation of a Police Officer
On Oct. 12, 2023, the James City County Police Department received a call for service from a concerned individual. The caller reported that he had detained two juveniles in the Fenwick Hills Neighborhood for suspicious activity and claimed to be an "off-duty" police officer to dispatchers without specifying the jurisdiction.
Upon arrival, officers learned that the “off-duty” caller was Cody Hardin, who had detained two juveniles while posing as a law enforcement officer and using a Dodge Charger that shared a resemblance to a police vehicle. The responding officer promptly released the children to their parents. However, at that time, the responding officer was not aware that the caller claimed to be an off-duty officer, nor were they aware that the caller identified himself to the parents of the juveniles as a James City County Officer. Upon learning about the James City County impersonation claims, officers promptly initiated an investigation.
Through a swift investigation, police charged Hardin with unlawfully detaining individuals while impersonating a law enforcement officer and secured warrants for his arrest. Cody Hardin is not, and has never been, a James City County Police Officer.
At approximately 9:20 p.m. on Oct. 14, officers executed the arrest warrants and took Cody Hardin into custody at his residence in the 3400 block of Colony Mill Road. Police also seized the vehicle as evidence. He was subsequently transported to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail. The investigation remains active.
Media Contact:
Tayleb Brooks, PR and Special Projects Administrator
757-592-5618; tayleb.brooks@jamescitycountyva.gov