POLICE SAY MAN WAS IMPERSONATING A VETERAN

CRESSKILL -- A 60-year-old man was arrested for allegedly impersonating a veteran and asking for financial assistance from the local American Legion Post and other veteran agencies.

Baustista J. Bonet, who was residing at the Grand Plaza Hotel in Saddle Brook, was arrested on Feb. 13 by the Cresskill Police Department with assistance of the Saddle Brook Police Department. Bonet was charged with one count impersonation - theft of identity - and one count theft by deception. Bonet was remanded in Bergen County Jail.

In January, the police department was contacted by the Cresskill American Legion Post 21 reporting an instance of fraud, according to a press release. Police investigation found that Bonet contacted the American Legion Post and identified himself as Sgt. Bob Bonet, a retired U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service.

Bonet allegedly approached the organization requesting financial assistance, telling members that he was having an issue with his house in Cresskill and could not afford another night at the hotel. After giving Bonet money to pay for food and the hotel room, the post commander contacted the Bergen County Division of Veteran Services about Bonet, learning that Bonet had also come to their office for assistance.

Bergen County Division of Veteran Services then began looking into Bonet's military history, discovering he was court-martialed and dishonorable discharged at the rank of PV1 from the United States Army in 1977. The organization also discovered that Bonet had contacted various veteran organizations throughout Bergen and Passaic counties for assistance.