Pennsport couple charged with impersonating police officers

Philadelphia police have arrested a man and a woman from Pennsport who allegedly impersonated police officers in South Philadelphia.

Terrance Jacobus, 48, and Kelli Rowan, 28, were arrested Wednesday after they were pulled over by officers from the Third District, and now face charges of impersonating a public servant, robbery, criminal conspiracy, theft, and related crimes.

Police said Jacobus and Rowan targeted two people early on Nov. 29. About 4:40 a.m., police said, a 23-year-old woman walking home was approached by the pair, who were driving a silver Nissan, near Fourth and Jackson Streets.

Jacobus, police said, showed the woman a badge, told her he was a police officer, and ordered her to "come here." He threatened to arrest her if she did not comply.

The woman instead ran home, and the vehicle sped off, police said.

Just under two hours later, around 6:20, a 21-year-old man told police he was also approached by a man and a woman in a silver car on the 1600 block of Passyunk Avenue.

Getting out of the car, Jacobus again flashed a badge, said he was a police officer, and told the victim he fit the description of a man wanted for selling drugs, police said.

Police said Jacobus flicked through the man's wallet, handed his medical and ID cards to Rowan to "check to see if they matched," frisked the victim, and rifled through his backpack.

Then, police said, Rowan told Jacobus the victim's "cards matched," and Jacobus handed the man his wallet back.

As the pair sped off down Passyunk, the victim realized his money - $14 in cash - was missing from his wallet.

Jacobus has a rap sheet stretching back to the 1980s, and has served stints in prison on theft and burglary convictions. Rowan's arrest was her first.

They were arraigned Thursday and remained in police custody Friday with bail set at $100,000 for Jacobus and $6,000 for Rowan.

awhelan@philly.com

215-854-2961 @aubreyjwhelan