Anika Markle A police officer from Southern California is in big trouble after being accused of faking a serious injury to collect more than $600,000—while secretly enjoying an active and fun-filled life.
Nicole Brown, 39, a Westminster police officer, said she had a head injury after a minor bump during an arrest in March 2022. She told her boss she had a bad headache and felt dizzy. Even though the doctor said she was okay to return to work, she later claimed to have a severe concussion.
Living the High Life While “Injured”
Instead of resting, prosecutors say Brown took part in soccer conferences, ran in two 5K races, went skiing and snowboarding, played golf, watched baseball games, and even visited Disneyland. But the biggest red flag came when she was spotted dancing and drinking at the Stagecoach Music Festival in April 2023—an event packed with flashing lights and loud music, the kind of things she claimed made her symptoms worse.
Caught on Camera, Still Claiming Pain
Only three days after partying at Stagecoach, Brown joined a Zoom call from a dark room with her stepfather, saying she couldn’t handle looking at a screen. She claimed she was still struggling with bright lights, loud noises, and even paperwork. After that, she checked into a center for brain injuries.
But by then, the damage was done—investigators had already started looking into her claims.
Charges Filed and More Trouble Ahead
Brown now faces 15 felony charges of workers’ comp and insurance fraud and could face up to 22 years in prison if found guilty. Her stepfather, Peter Schuman, a licensed attorney, is also in hot water. He’s been charged with helping her commit fraud and could lose his license.
Brown’s lawyer says she really was hurt and plans to fight the charges.
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