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Three people arrested, Brandon Kiel, Tonette Hayes and David Henry including worker for California Attorney-General Kamala Harris

Three people, including one who works for California Attorney-General Kamala Harris, were charged after claiming to operate a police department with jurisdiction in 33 states and Mexico that was founded by the Knights Templar in 1100 BC.
Brandon Kiel, David Henry and Tonette Hayes were taken into custody last week on suspicion of impersonating officers as members of the Masonic Fraternal Police Department (MFPD), Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said.
From left, Brandon Kiel, Tonette Hayes and David Henry. Photos / AP
Detectives believed other people might be involved, sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said.
Deputies found ID cards, uniforms and law enforcement-like vehicles with other official police equipment during their search of a home and office linked to the group.
But Nishida said there were no indications the group was stopping the public or conducting other law enforcement activities.
State records show Hayes is licensed as a security guard and has a firearm permit. She previously owned 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 has a firearm permit.
Kiel, 31, worked as deputy director of community affairs at the California Department of Justice since July 2013. He has been on paid administrative leave from his US$67,416 ($89,858)-a-year job since Friday.
Department spokesman David Beltran said 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 charged on April 28 with multiple counts of impersonating an officer and other misdemeanours. Henry has been charged with committing perjury for declaring the Masonic Fraternal Police Department is a state agency. Kiel is charged with misusing his government identification.
Hayes, a pastor, moderated a debate between sheriff's candidates in the most recent election, Nishida said.
Henry won an Emmy in 2002 for his work as a producer on a Fox11 story, according to Variety.com.
The investigation started after police chiefs in California got a letter in January that announced new leadership for the MFPD. The letter was written by Kiel, identified as its chief director, and Hayes, the grand chief director.
Captain Roosevelt Johnson of the sheriff's department's Santa Clarita Valley station said he met members of the MFPD on February 4.
"Brandon Kiel gave me a business card from the Department of Justice, showing he worked out of Kamala Harris' office," he said.
"That really raised red flags for me.
Jokpeme Joseph Omode stands as a prominent figure in contemporary Nigerian journalism, embodying the spirit of a multifaceted storyteller who bridges history, poetry, and investigative reporting to champion social progress. As the Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Alexa News Nigeria (Alexa.ng), Omode has transformed a digital platform into a vital voice for governance, education, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in Africa. His career, marked by over a decade of experience across media, public relations, brand strategy, and content creation, reflects a relentless commitment to using journalism as a tool for accountability and societal advancement.

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