Capitol security officer on leave after posing as undercover cop while drunk with loaded gun

Alpha News has learned that a Minnesota Capitol security officer was recently arrested for impersonating a police officer at a Minneapolis bar, threatening to detain patrons, and driving off drunk with a loaded firearm.

Cristian Orea, 39, of Minneapolis, faces four charges, including third-degree DWI, carrying a pistol while under the influence of alcohol, and impersonating a peace officer.

Although authorities asked that Orea be kept behind bars—stating in the criminal complaint, “The State has grave safety concerns for public safety”—Hennepin County released him from custody the next day. Vance Boelter, the man accused in the assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman last month, posed as a law enforcement officer to compel his victims out of their homes.

Following questions from Alpha News, the Minnesota State Patrol confirmed that Orea has been placed on leave and stripped of his access to the Capitol complex.

Orea allegedly posed as an undercover officer

According to the criminal complaint, Minneapolis police were called to a restaurant on Lake Street just after midnight July 14 on a report of an intoxicated man with a firearm.

“Security observed [Orea] tell several people in the bar that he was a police officer while displaying the ‘badge’ on his phone,” the complaint states.

According to restaurant security, Orea identified himself as an “undercover officer on site for a narcotics investigation” and showed them a picture on his phone with a badge labeled “State Patrol.”

Security told Orea he could not be in the restaurant with a firearm while intoxicated and asked him to leave. Orea allegedly became upset and warned them not to “interfere with [his] investigation,” according to the complaint.

Then, as two men tried to leave the bar without paying, Orea reportedly stopped them, placed his hand on his firearm, and said, “I am a Police Officer. If you don’t pay, I can arrest you right now,” the complaint states.

Police recovered loaded firearm after arrest

A restaurant security staff member called a Minneapolis police officer to verify whether Orea was a real police officer. After learning he was not and being advised to call 911, Orea “ran out of the building to his vehicle and drove away,” according to the complaint.

Police later located Orea’s vehicle and observed him crossing lane lines on Lake Street.

When officers pulled Orea over, they found a firearm holstered on his right hip and, according to the complaint, “in plain view in the back seat, there was a high visibility rain jacket with a silver badge, Minnesota Capitol Security patch, and ‘Capitol Security’ in large black letters on the back.”

During the arrest, Orea reportedly refused sobriety tests and told officers, “Just book me.”

While being transported to the precinct, he repeatedly claimed to be law enforcement.

“We’re on the same page, we’re law enforcement,” Orea reportedly stated. “I work for State Patrol, I work in the Capitol, I’m a Capitol Officer … We got the Chopper, we got eyes everywhere, and State [Patrol] can go, well you know how it goes, we can go anywhere we want, we’ve got that jurisdiction.”

Officers later recovered a loaded Ruger pistol with a round in the chamber, according to the complaint.

While Orea carried a firearm the night of his arrest, the State Patrol told Alpha News that Capitol Security officers are not issued guns in their official capacity, stating: “Capitol Security Officers are not issued firearms. They are issued OC Aerosol [pepper spray].”

State Patrol oversight and hiring process questioned

The Capitol security division is overseen by a State Patrol captain under Minnesota law.

“A Capitol Security Officer is a non-sworn member of the State Patrol that provides security services in areas in the Capitol complex,” the State Patrol told Alpha News.

A retired Capitol security officer who worked on the complex for over a decade and spoke on the condition of anonymity described the situation with Orea as “shocking but not surprising.”

“When I started, they took hiring seriously. Now you only need three months of fast-food experience to get 24/7 keycard access to all the buildings and rooms on the Capitol complex. With employees like this, who needs enemies?”

The retired officer alleged the State Patrol “fills their DEI requirements with the state through Capitol Security.”

“This is how you get people who are unqualified running around with Capitol access,” the source added. “Sadly, people like this are in charge and are supposed to protect the three branches of government on the Capitol complex.”

The State Patrol told Alpha News: “Capitol Security Officers are trained consistently to a proficient level to do their assigned duties,” and pointed to the general orders for Capitol security as well as the requirement in state law to have Capitol security.

State Patrol official statement 

In a statement to Alpha News, Colonel Christina Bogojevic defended the agency’s standards and addressed the allegations against Orea:

“The Minnesota State Patrol is committed to integrity, accountability and building and maintaining public trust. We hold all our employees to the highest ethical and professional standards, both on and off duty. Any allegation that those standards are not met is followed by appropriate action in accordance with agency policy.

The allegations contained in the criminal complaint do not reflect our core values or those who wear the Capitol Security uniform with pride.

Capitol Security Officer Cristian Orea has been placed on leave.

We remain focused on serving the public with courage, honor, integrity, excellence and a deep respect for the responsibilities entrusted to us.”

Alpha News also reached out to Orea’s attorney on record for comment but did not receive a response.

The post Capitol security officer on leave after posing as undercover cop while drunk with loaded gun appeared first on Alpha News MN.