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Saturday, January 4, 2014

Protip (Florida): When Impersonating an Officer, Don’t Pull Over an Officer



Here’s a protip, which seems necessary only for Florida (and perhaps parts of Oklahoma, though probably not even there).  When impersonating an officer, don’t pull over a real police officer.  I know, I know: this sometimes happens accidentally when someone playing cop pulls over an off-duty cop in his personal car, or pulls over an undercover cop.  But this happened in Florida, so the fake cop pulled over an actual marked police car (lights and all), to report a reckless driver.


He didn’t pull the police car over by waiving him down.  No, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Jonathan Charles Stevens, age 24 (so should have known better), had a Tahoe equipped with red and blue lights, a badge around his neck and a concealed Glock .45 caliber handgun.  Stevens claimed he was a Department of Homeland Security Officer.  This is plausible, if he were a member of TSA.  Unfortunately for him, Stevens apparently couldn’t even get hired by that most-rigorous and esteemed of institutions.  How he got flashing red and blue lights equipped in a Tahoe is another story which needs to be examined.  Stevens didn’t even have a concealed-carry permit. 

And, it was the second time in three months he has been charged with impersonating a police officer.  You would think that the DA would have taken away his red and blue light equipped Tahoe and fake badge the first time.  Because, the first time, he pulled someone over in a mall parking lot with his fake-cop Tahoe.

Stevens seems to have a problem (whether mental or emotional).  Manatee, Florida, where he lives, seems to have a problem taking away his Tahoe that looks like a police car.  Stevens is out on the street again after posting bail. It was unstated whether he drove off in his own fake police car with his fake badge and real gun.

Stevens likely won’t read or heed this protip.  For the rest of you erstwhile readers, don’t impersonate an officer.  Don’t do it in a fake police car. And if you fail at the following the first two pieces of advice, don’t pull over real police officers in marked cars.

Story credit: Orlando Sentinel

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