Police Impersonator Arrested For Pulling Over A Real Officer
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A man accused of pretending to be a police officer is released from jail after police say he tried to pull over an undercover detective who was driving in an unmarked vehicle.
According to Miami-Dade Police, Marcos Pacheco-Bustamante, 46, pulled up behind Officer Alton Martin's vehicle while traveling northbound on I-95 Friday morning.
"I'm not going to explain anything. Leave me alone already," Pacheco told CBS4 News when asked about the allegations against him.
Pacheco, who was driving a Green, 2000 Ford Crown Victoria, allegedly turned on police sirens which caused Officer Martin to change lanes.
Pacheco continued to follow the unmarked police vehicle, despite the fact that Officer Martin was in a full Miami-Dade police uniform, and fired off the police siren again.
At that point, Officer Martin thought he was being pulled over, so he stopped on the shoulder of the road near NW 119th Street.
"He thinks the officer is trying to go around me, so he changes lanes. The Crown Vic changes with him. The sirens continue. He then decides I'm being pulled over, let me pull over," explained Det. Jennifer Capote.
Once out of the car, he realized the other driver was not a police officer and took him into custody.
During a search of Pacheco's car, police found an H&K BB gun replica and a police blue light.
Pacheco, who only speaks Spanish, apparently admitted he's pulled people over before.
"He actually mentioned that he has done this in the past," Capote said. "He doesn't like people driving and texting. I don't know if he drives around Dade County looking for people who are texting on their phone, and what he actually does. Maybe he honks at them or turns on these sirens."
It's unclear if the officer he pulled over was speeding or texting.
When asked if he had pulled other people over, Pacheco said, "I have not pulled anybody over." When asked, "Just the police officer today?" He said, "Yes. Now leave me alone."
"You guys are really aggravating me. What I don't want is to go back in there," as Pacheco gestured towards the jail. "If not..." Pachecho did not finish the rest of his thought.
Police are concerned Pacheco has put others at risk.
"It is a concern for us. This gentleman is telling us he has pulled over other victims. So we are urging the community to call the police if they are victim or seen this Crown Victoria even stopping people."
Police advice, should you ever come across a situation like this, to pull over but make a call as well.
"If you don't feel that somethings right, then get on the phone with 911. Get on the phone with a dispatcher," Capote explained. "Tell the dispatcher I'm being stopped at this location, this is the type of the vehicle."
And police say you should stay on the phone with 911 until you feel comfortable.
Detectives want anyone who may have been a victim, or witnessed, one of these illicit traffic stops to contact police.
