He had a badge, his car had emergency lights, he pulled people over — but he wasn’t a cop, authorities say
A 70-year-old man sporting a fake badge and driving a white sedan equipped with emergency lights was arrested Thursday after he allegedly pulled over unsuspecting drivers in Riverside County, officials said.
Witnesses reported that a man driving a white Ford Crown Victoria was conducting traffic stops Thursday in Canyon Lake, near Lake Elsinore, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.
The man reportedly flashed a badge with the words “agent” and “California,” officials added. Authorities did not say why the man was pulling people over.
Deputies located the Crown Victoria in question Thursday and arrested Steven Sawhill, 70, of Canyon Lake, on suspicion of impersonating a peace officer, false imprisonment and vehicle code violations regarding the emergency lights on the car.
Sawhill was also allegedly in possession of other fraudulent identification cards, authorities said.
Anyone with additional information, or who had a similar experience, is asked to contact the Riverside sheriff’s Lake Elsinore Station at (951) 245-3300.
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