Everett police arrested a man suspected of impersonating a police officer during a traffic stop last month, using a pickup truck equipped with blue lights and a “Traffic Control” decal to pull over a driver.
Patrol officers responded Jan. 13 to the 4600 block of South 3rd Avenue after a man reported being stopped by someone he believed was posing as a police officer. The victim told officers he was driving on South 3rd Avenue when a silver pickup truck displaying a “Traffic Control” decal activated blue lights behind him, prompting him to pull over.
During the encounter, the suspect claimed to be a security officer and an off-duty Duvall police officer and said the stop was for speeding. The driver had a dash camera, and video footage from the camera was shown to responding officers. Police contacted the Duvall Police Department, which confirmed the individual did not work for the agency.
On Jan. 30, the Everett Police Department’s Anti-Crime Team and Violent Crime Unit were notified of the suspect vehicle’s location through the Flock license plate reader system. Using LPR alerts, officers located the man and took him into custody. He was booked into Snohomish County Jail on suspicion of second-degree criminal impersonation.
Following the arrest, Everett police reminded residents that anyone who feels unsure or unsafe during a traffic stop should call 911. The department encouraged anyone who believes they may have encountered a police impersonator to report the incident to local authorities. Dash camera footage proved critical in identifying and prosecuting the suspect, demonstrating the value of vehicle recording systems in documenting roadside encounters.
