LYNN – A Lynn man who allegedly impersonated a police officer in 1999 was up to the same tricks Friday night when he terrorized a woman and repeatedly threatened to arrest her unless she had sex with him.The suspect, John Reis, 51, of 10 Parker Hill Ave., was arrested at his home on a warrant Wednesday night and charged with attempted extortion and impersonating a police officer. He is expected to be arraigned today at Lynn District Court.According to a police report, officers spoke with the 28-year-old victim at Union Hospital Friday night around 10 p.m. She said she had been walking on Union Street earlier that day, when a man, later identified as Reis, pulled his dark-colored pick up truck over and told her to get in.She said when she hesitated, Reis said he was a cop and sternly told her to get in his vehicle, which she did. As Reis drove away, the victim said he again said he was a cop and that he was going to arrest her for common street walking if she didn’t have sex with him at her home.Saying she was fearful, the victim asked Reis for his badge number or identification, but he allegedly told her that if he showed her his badge, he would have to arrest her. She claimed that he dropped her off at her residence on Alice Avenue and said that if she didn’t “get rid” of her husband and her mother-in-law (whom she lives with) so that they could have sex, she would be going to jail.30 minutes after she was dropped off, the victim said Reis showed up again and her and her mother-in-law ran outside to confront him. After arguing back and forth about Reis’ badge, the victim’s mother-in-law said she was calling the police and Reis was said to have jumped in his truck and left the area.A description of Reis was given to police along with his license plate number and both women stressed that they would be able to recognize him if they saw a picture.With that information, police ran the registration number and realized Reis had been arrested on Aug. 28, 1999 for impersonating a police officer and violation of a John law. Police say “Johns” often pose as police officers in order to get sexual favors without a cost. Based on that information and the victim’s statement, police say they became concerned that a sexual predator was out and about in Lynn.On Monday, police put together a photo array of eight men with a similar description and showed them to the victim, who immediately pointed Reis out.Based on the victim’s statement, police obtained a warrant Wednesday and took him into custody.
