Everett police encourage anyone who believes they may have encountered a police impersonator to report the incident. (Everett PD)
EVERETT, Wash. — Everett police have arrested a man accused of impersonating a police officer after he allegedly conducted a traffic stop using blue lights on a south Everett roadway.
According to the Everett Police Department, patrol officers responded Jan. 13 to a report of a man impersonating a police officer near the 4600 block of South 3rd Avenue.
The case raises added concern at a time when some federal enforcement actions, including those carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, involve unmarked vehicles and plainclothes masked officers, making it harder for drivers to immediately verify who is conducting a stop.
The reporting party told officers he was driving on South 3rd Avenue when a silver pickup truck with a decal reading “Traffic Control” activated blue lights behind him. Believing the vehicle was legitimate, the driver pulled over.
Police say the incident underscores the importance of verifying traffic stops if something doesn’t look right by calling 911.
Suspect claimed police authority
Police said the suspect told the driver he was a security officer and an off-duty Duvall police officer. He claimed he stopped the driver for speeding.
The reporting party provided dash camera footage, which officers reviewed at the scene. Officers then contacted the Duvall Police Department, which confirmed the man did not work for the agency.
License plate readers led to arrest
On Jan. 30, Everett Police Anti-Crime Team officers and the Violent Crime Unit received an alert on the suspect vehicle through the department’s Flock License Plate Reader system.
Using that information, officers located the vehicle in Everett and took the suspect into custody. Police booked him into the Snohomish County Jail on suspicion of second-degree criminal impersonation.
What to do if a stop feels unsafe
Everett police encourage anyone who believes they may have encountered a police impersonator to report the incident.
Police also stress that drivers who feel unsure or unsafe during a traffic stop should call 911 immediately. Dispatchers can confirm whether the stop is legitimate and provide instructions on how to proceed safely.
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