He had a badge, gun and motorcycle and made traffic stops. But cops say he was a fake
A person decked out in a phony law enforcement uniform and carrying a fake badge and a loaded gun was recently arrested in eastern Los Angeles County after making unlawful traffic stops, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.
The man, whom deputies declined to identify, is accused of illegally impersonating an officer and carrying a loaded firearm in public, according to Sgt. Jose Arias, the watch commander at the Sheriff’s Department’s Industry Station.
Arias said the impersonator had made multiple unlawful traffic stops over several months, but noted that investigators were not aware whether the man had taken any enforcement action, such as requesting ticket payments or detaining anyone. Arias did not know under what circumstances the man is suspected of pulling people over, but said the investigation is ongoing.
Sherrif’s officials shared photos of the arrest, which showed the man wearing a patch reading “Motor officer†and “Traffic†on a navy-blue uniform. He was riding a motorcycle that appeared to be equipped with red and blue lights, and carried a tactical vest with a silver badge. He also had what appeared to be a gun, a baton and a body camera.
Officials said the man made the phony traffic stops in the eastern Valinda area near Nogales High School in La Puente. Detectives ask that anyone who was pulled over by the impersonator to contact the Sheriff’s Department.
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