Orem police report catching a bogus officer

OREM — Just because you've got lights and a pair of handcuffs doesn't mean you're a police officer.

Police say a 21-year-old from Pleasant Grove who had put police lights and other squad-car equipment on his sedan was sent home by an Orem officer with citations, a court date and a command to remove lights atop his car.

The man, driving a tan Chrysler equipped with a police light bar, chirped his police siren at a driver Friday afternoon in a roundabout at 1200 S. 800 West, said Orem Police Sgt. Orlando Ruiz.

Orem police officer Thomas Wallace had just entered the roundabout when he heard the siren. As the car went by, Wallace noticed the light bar and lights inside the back windshield — but didn't recognize the car.

Wallace followed the car. Ignoring Wallace's real police lights, the man in the fake police car sped away but eventually pulled over.

Ruiz said the driver falsely claimed to be a member of the Utah County Search and Rescue team. Along with the police lights and a wallet badge, the man also had a police scanner, handcuffs, a handgun and a concealed-weapons permit, police said.

---

Contributing: Sam Penrod, KSL-TV

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com