The brother of former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts is not allowed to possess weapons or law enforcement paraphernalia, after he was arrested and charged with impersonating an officer in Old Lyme, Conn.
A judge Thursday ordered Bruce Browne, 47, of Wolcott, to stay away from the Point O' Woods beach community where he is accused of having been found armed and impersonating a police officer.
Old Lyme police and state police troopers had responded to the community just before 6:30 p.m. on August 8 after a caller reported a man was walking on Sea View Drive wearing military-type clothes and carrying a gun. The caller told police the man had been seen earlier in the day driving a "police-type vehicle."
Officers located the vehicle at 32 Sea View Road. According to police, the 2004 blue Ford Crown Victoria was equipped with antennae on the trunk and "hide-away" lights.
After speaking with several people at the home, police determined the car belonged to Browne. They said Browne admitted to walking on Sea View Drive wearing a black, nylon gun belt with a loaded 9mm pistol in a holster.
The chief of police in Wolcott said that Bruce Browne is the brother of the former U.S. senator from Massachusetts.
State police said Browne's identifying documents spelled his last name with an "e."
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Scott Brown also addressed the arrest on his Facebook page:
For those of you who are asking about the news reports on my estranged half brother, I only know as much as you. 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.
Troopers searched Bruce Browne's car and found three 9mm handguns, a nylon duty belt with two sets of handcuffs and 12 magazines fully loaded with more than 200 bullets, according to police.
A black tactical bullet-proof vest with the word "POLICE" embroidered on the front and back was also found. A silver TSA badge was attached to the vest, police said. Browne was also in possession of an expired Coast Guard ID card from when he was a member of the Coast Guard Reserve, police said.
During their investigation, authorities learned Browne had commandeered a boat earlier in the day by identifying himself as a police or Coast Guard official, according to state police. He is accused of stopping three boats off the coast of Point O' Woods and asking the operators for their registrations and boater safety certificates.
Investigators contacted both TSA and the Coast Guard and determined Browne was not affiliated with either agency.
He was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer, breach of peace, interfering with a police officer and possession of a dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle. He was released on a $50,000 bond and appeared in court today.
Browne is due back in court on Oct. 1.
