‘Rogue police force’ run by trio claimed to be 3,000 years old

Tonette Hayes is suspected of impersonating a police officer. Picture: AP

Brandon Kiel, David Henry and Tonette Hayes were taken into custody on suspicion of impersonating officers as members of the Masonic Fraternal Police Department, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.

Detectives believe other people may be involved in the operation. Deputies found identity cards, uniforms and police-style vehicles along with other official police equipment during their search of a home and office linked to the group.

But sheriff’s spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said there was no indication the group was stopping the public or conducting other policing activities.

State records show Hayes, a pastor, is licensed as a security guard and has a gun permit. She previously owned the Masonic Security Service and she and Henry run the Beverly Hills-based MIB Investigative Agency, though its state licence is suspended. Henry is a licensed security guard and also holds a firearms permit.

Kiel, 31, who worked as deputy director of community affairs at the California Department of Justice since July 2013, has been on paid administrative leave from his £44,000-a-year civil service job since Wednesday.

Department spokesman David Beltran said the agency could not comment on an ongoing personnel matter or criminal investigation.

However, he said Kiel “worked with members of the public basically on issues and questions regarding the work of the department”. Kiel, Henry, 46, and Hayes, 59, were arrested on 30 April and released later that day, according to jail records.

All three were charged on  28 April with multiple counts of impersonating an officer and other misdemeanours, Ricardo Santiago, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, said.

Henry has been charged with committing perjury under oath for declaring that the Masonic Fraternal Police Department is a state agency.

Kiel is charged with misusing his government identification.

Hayes moderated a debate between sheriff’s candidates in the most recent election, Ms Nishida said.

Henry won an Emmy in 2002 for his work as a producer on a story for local TV channel Fox11, according to Variety.com.

He also co-produced a documentary with Hayes several years later about a long-time civil rights leader, the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper said in 2007.

A website for the Masonic police force claims the group was created by the Knights Templar in 1100 BC.