Man learns nobody likes a smartass, especially not at 2:20 a.m. in a convenience store in JP

Today we learn why it's not a good idea to go up to somebody in a convenience store at 2:20 a.m., tell him you're an undercover cop and demand to know why he blew your cover if you're not really an undercover cop.

A guy who did that inside the Tedeschi store at 684 Centre St., early this morning found himself confronted with a newly angry man who, it turns out, had a knife - and a soda - Boston Police report:

The suspect then followed the victim outside where he threw a soda at him and then brandished the knife in a threatening manner.

Fortunately for the fake cop, police say, a real cop happened to be passing by, interceded and arrested the alleged knifeman, Edward Hurtado of Roxbury, on a charge of assault by means of a dangerous weapon.

"The victim is not a police officer and it is not known why he was motivated to identify himself as such," police add.

innocent, etc.