An Arizona man, identified as Nicholas Calfy, was arrested after hotel staff say he arrived at a Phoenix Fairfield Inn wearing a police-style vest and carrying items that appeared to be law-enforcement gear. Staff—one who had recent human trafficking training—noted controlling behavior toward a woman accompanying him and called police. Calfy left without a room, returned for luggage, ran when approached and was arrested outside the hotel. He is charged with criminal impersonation but denies claiming to be an officer, saying the gear was "cosplay for airsoft."
Man In Police-Style Vest Accused Of Faking Domestic Violence To Get Free Hotel Room; Arrested In Phoenix
Image Credit: Arizona's Family (3TV / CBS 5)
An Arizona man identified as Nicholas Calfy was arrested after hotel staff say he arrived at a Phoenix Fairfield Inn wearing police-style gear and claimed a woman with him had been abused in an apparent attempt to secure a complimentary room, according to court records reviewed by 12News.
What Happened
Employees at the Fairfield Inn and Suites on South 50th Street and a nearby business reported seeing Calfy wearing a marked police vest and carrying items that looked like law enforcement equipment, including what was later determined to be a BB gun, a Taser and handcuffs. General Manager Candice Adams told reporters that Calfy said he was trying to obtain a room for the woman because she had been a victim of abuse and that his supervisor was upset he hadn’t been able to get the room comped.
Staff Raised Concerns
Hotel staff were skeptical of Calfy’s story. One clerk who had recently completed human trafficking training said she noticed what she described as controlling behavior toward the woman and called police. Calfy and the woman left the hotel without obtaining a room but left some luggage behind.
Return, Confrontation And Arrest
Calfy later returned to retrieve the luggage, offering staff and responding officers another chance to contact him. When General Manager Adams attempted to bring the bags outside and speak with him, Calfy ran. Employees notified the officer on scene, and Calfy was arrested outside the hotel.
Charges And Court Remarks
Calfy was booked on one count of criminal impersonation. Court documents cited by 12News say he acknowledged wearing the vest and carrying the BB gun but denied ever telling anyone he was a police officer. At his initial court appearance he again denied impersonating an officer, saying, “It’s not illegal to possess cosplay stuff for airsoft,” and called suggestions he staged the encounter to get a free room “absurd,” asking, “What hotel is just giving out free?”
Calfy’s bond was set at $15,000, and his next court date is scheduled for September 8. The criminal impersonation charge is an allegation; Calfy has denied representing himself as a police officer.
Source: Details in this report are based on court records and reporting from 12News.
Help us improve.
