picture courtesy Waterbury Republican American

WFSB Channel 3 Eyewitness News has learned the brother of former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown has been arrested on weapons charges and on charges of impersonating a police officer. Bruce Browne, who reportedly uses a different spelling of his surname than his brother, was taken into custody Thursday night.

Here is the press release from State Police and a look at the items troopers seized from Browne’s car. Go to wfsb.com for more info.

Press Release
Impersonating A Police Officer
Date and time: 08-08-13, 1823 hrs. Location: Point O Woods Beach Old Lyme.
Summary of Incident:
On the above date and time Troop F personnel and Old Lyme Police Officers responded to the Point O Woods Beach community in Old Lyme. Troop F received a phone call from a resident reporting a white male wearing military type clothing was walking on Sea View Dr. with a gun. The caller also reported that this same male was seen early on today’s date operating what she described as a “police type vehicle”. Responding Troopers and Officers located a 2004 blue Crown Victoria bearing Ct. Reg. 684-ZNF at # 32 Sea View Dr. This vehicle was equipped with what appeared to be a disc and antennas mounted on the trunk and equipped with “hide-away” lights. Upon speaking with several occupants at the residence, a (ARRESTED:)Bruce W. Browne (11-01-66) from # 42 Woodgate Dr. Wolcott, Ct. stated that he was the registered owner of the vehicle. Browne was wearing blue BDU type pants and upon being questioned about his early whereabouts, Browne admitted to walking on Sea View Dr wearing a black nylon gun belt with a loaded 9mm pistol in a holster on the belt. Located in his vehicle and in plain view were 3 loaded 9mm handguns, a black nylon duty belt with 2 sets of handcuffs, an expandable Asp, 12 fully loaded magazines with a total of 101 hollow point and 102 ball 9mm bullets. Browne also had a black tactical bullet proof vest with the word POLICE embroidered on the front and back. Also attached to the front of the vest was a silver metal TSA badge. Further investigation revealed that Browne commandeered a boat earlier today by identifying himself as a “Police/Coast Guard” official. Browne stopped three separate vessels off the shore of Point O Woods. During these vessel stops Browne was asking boaters for their registrations and boater safety certificates. Browne also had an expired Coast Guard identification card belonging to him back when he was a reserve member of the Coast Guard. TSA and US Coast Guard officials were contacted and upon researching their personnel records, it was determined that Browne is not affiliated with either of these agencies. US Coast Guard Officials will be conducting a follow up investigation on 08-09-13 with regards to similar incidents that they are currently investigating.
Charges: Impersonating A Police Officer, Breach of Peace, Interfering With A Police Officer and Possession of a Dangerous Weapon in a Motor Vehicle. Browne was released on a $50,000.00 bond and will appear at GA 10 in New London on 08-22-13.
SENT BY: Sergeant Michael Hassett # 274 Troop F Shift Supervisor