Jose Flores Ortiz was arrested this week in Brighton, Colorado, after making the error of pulling over an off-duty police officer. The suspect is accused of utilizing lights and a silver badge to impersonate a police officer on the highway.
Talking to CBS Colorado, Adams County Deputy Gilbert Abdulla stated he was driving on I-76 when a Dodge Durango with racing stripes caught his consideration. The SUV pulled up near the officer and beginning following very intently.
That’s when he noticed a strip of LED lights illuminate over the Durango‘s sprint. One thing in regards to the automobile bought his hackles up, although, and he felt that one thing was incorrect. “This will’t be actual” he recalled considering.
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“At one level he was so near me, it appeared odd. So I reached over and grabbed my police radio and turned it on and certain sufficient the purple and blue lights got here on behind me,” stated Abdulla.
He figured, although, that the automobile behind him couldn’t be an actual officer, so he radioed dispatch, which confirmed no officer was making an attempt to tug him over. The Durango apparently then began following one other automobile, earlier than returning to Abdulla’s automobile and brake checking him.
Each automobiles pulled over, and a person bought out of the Durango and approached Abdulla, sporting a “Safety” shirt and brandishing a silver badge. Abdulla additionally bought out of his automobile and recognized himself.
“At first it was an ‘Oh shoot’ second, after which it was virtually him eager to clean it over like ‘I’m similar to you,’” says Abdulla, who detained the person till Brighton police arrived. They discovered weapons and an open container of alcohol in his automobile.
Ortiz was booked on September 3 on fees together with impersonating a peace officer. Police say that if you end up in an identical state of affairs, don’t pull over or pull down your window. As a substitute, flip in your hazards and drive at a secure velocity whereas calling 911 to verify if the particular person pulling you over is a police officer. Thoughts you, that may not all the time maintain you secure, even when it’s a cop.