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Deputies: Teen impersonator taken back into custody on theft charges

MIAMI BEACH, Fla.,None — A teenager accused of first impersonating a physician assistant and now a police officer is expected to be returned to Osceola County Friday after he was re-arrested the same day for allegedly stealing a law enforcement radio.

Matthew Scheidt was arrested Thursday morning in Miami on charges of impersonating a police officer and was re-arrested late that same night by Osceola County deputies, who say he stole one of their radios.

Last summer, 18-year-old Scheidt was arrested for impersonating a physician's assistant at the Osceola Regional Medical Center, where he is alleged to have treated patients.

Osceola County sheriff's deputies traveled to South Florida on Thursday to search for Scheidt after he bonded out of the Miami-Dade County Jail.

Scheidt was wanted by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office for allegedly stealing a police radio. Deputies questioned him overnight in Miami and he will be transferred to the Osceola County Jail.

When officers arrested Scheidt in Miami early Thursday, he was driving a white Crown Victoria, which is similar to an unmarked police car.

Officers said he was also typing on a computer mounted on the car's dashboard. They said they found a loaded gun, a stun gun and a fake badge among other law enforcement items in Scheidt's car.

"The badge he had in his possession was not an Osceola County badge," said Twis Lizasuain, spokeswoman for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.

Officers also found an Osceola County Sheriff's Office radio in the car.

"It appears as if he stole it," said Lizasuain. "He was not issued the radio."

Scheidt was a member of the agency's volunteer Explorer program, but was dismissed from it in 2010.

"I think law enforcement should be concerned, but I think the community should be concerned as well," said Lizasuain.

WFTV asked Scheidt's lawyer why it seems like his client likes to impersonate people.

"I don't know. I could theorize. I don't want to get into too much pop psychology. He's a young man. He's a very young man," said Mark Longwell, Scheidt's attorney.

Scheidt's neighbor just hopes the teenager gets the help he needs.

"If they found a gun, then he is dangerous," said Elizabeth Rice. "He is dangerous to people."

Scheidt could face additional charges when he is returned to Osceola County.

Longwell told WFTV the 18-year-old bought the lookalike police car recently for about $1,000.

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