Scott Brown’s brother arrested, charged with impersonating a police officer

The brother of former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) was arrested on Thursday night on charges of impersonating a police officer.  

Police in Wolcott, Conn., said they arrested Bruce Browne, 46, after someone reported an armed man in military-style clothing walking the streets with a gun. Authorities said they found Browne driving a blue Crown Victoria equipped with antennas and hideaway police lights.

{mosads}Inside the car, police claim to have found a bulletproof vest with a TSA badge attached and “POLICE” embroidered on the front and back. Browne was also allegedly found in possession of three loaded handguns, a police baton, two sets of handcuffs and more than 200 rounds of ammunition.

Earlier Thursday, investigators said Browne commandeered a boat in Long Island Sound after producing expired Coast Guard identification and identifying himself as a “police/Coast Guard” official. He proceeded to stop several other vessels during the day, and requested to see vehicle registrations and safety certificates, according to police.

While Browne was once a reserve member of the Coast Guard, officials
with the Transportation Security Administration and Coast Guard said he
is currently not affiliated with either agency

Browne was also charged with breaching the peace and possession of a dangerous weapon, according to ABC News, and has been released on a $50,000 bond.

The former senator said Friday on his Facebook page that his “estranged” brother would have to answer to the “serious charges” against him.

“For those of you who are asking about the news reports on my estranged half brother, I only know as much as you,” Brown wrote. “I read about it in the news this morning. As you many of you know, my mom and my late father were married and divorced 4 times each.

“Unfortunately, we were not close as a family. These are serious charges and he will need to answer them. I feel badly for his children and I am thankful that no one was injured.”

Wolcott Police chief Edward Stephens identified Browne as Scott Brown’s brother; he also said their last names were spelled differently because Browne had added an “e” to his name “some years ago.”

Jonathan Easley contributed.

This story was updated at 12:41 p.m.