Osceola County, FL — A man was arrested after deputies say he pretended to be a police officer and attempted to pull over a driver in Osceola County.
According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 7:00 p.m. on March 5 to Simpson Road after receiving reports of a man impersonating law enforcement.
The incident began around 6:30 p.m. when an 18-year-old driver was traveling on Buenaventura Boulevard near Osceola Parkway.
Authorities said the driver encountered a Chevrolet SUV stopped in the roadway blocking traffic and drove around it to continue on his way.
Investigators say the driver was then followed by the SUV, which activated blue flashing lights.
The suspect, identified as 59-year-old Carlos Barros-Villahermosa, pulled alongside the victim’s vehicle while both were still moving.
The victim rolled down his window and asked for identification, believing the SUV did not appear to be a legitimate police vehicle. The suspect reportedly displayed a badge.
The driver later pulled into a parking lot where the suspect approached the vehicle, claimed to be a police officer and asked for the driver’s license and registration.
During the encounter, the suspect began arguing with the driver about his driving.
The victim noticed what appeared to be an undercover police vehicle in the parking lot and told the suspect he wanted another officer present.
Authorities said the suspect quickly returned to his 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer and drove away.
The victim’s passenger provided deputies with video and a photograph of the suspect and the vehicle.
Deputies later located Barros-Villahermosa. Authorities said a badge and a firearm were visible during the encounter.
The suspect told deputies he works as a contract investigator for the U.S. Department of Defense and is a retired police officer from Puerto Rico.
Deputies arrested him and charged him with impersonating a police officer and false imprisonment.
The SUV was impounded, and investigators found switches inside the vehicle that activated blue lights and a siren.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have been stopped by the suspect to contact investigators.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.