Phony Deputy Caught after Pulling Over Real N.C. Sheriff's Deputy
What to know
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A 22-year-old man was arrested in Henderson County, North Carolina, after investigators said he impersonated a deputy by using blue lights to conduct a traffic stop, only to pull over an actual law enforcement officer.
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Authorities said the suspect wore a gun, badge and handcuffs, claimed to be a county traffic enforcement officer and issued a verbal warning before later identifying himself as a deputy from a neighboring agency.
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The suspect was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer and felony use of blue lights, and investigators warned there may be additional victims in western North Carolina.
A traffic stop took an unexpected turn when a fake deputy encountered a driver who turned out to be a real deputy, according to investigators in western North Carolina.
It happened on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in Henderson County, and the suspect not only had blue lights on his vehicle, but he “was wearing a gun, badge and handcuffs,” an arrest warrant reports.
Rodrigo Barrera-Lozada, 22, has been charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, and felony operating blue lights to cause a stop or yield the right of way, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said in a Feb. 4 news release.
“It is believed that there may be additional victims in the western N.C. area. Barrera-Lozada is known to operate a dark-in-color Hyundai Elantra with functioning emergency lights,” the sheriff’s office said.
“Anyone with additional information relating to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Unit at 828-694-3130.”
Court documents report Barrera-Lozada used his blue lights to stop a driver, identified himself as a Henderson County traffic enforcement officer, and ordered the driver to produce a license and registration.
He then “proceeded to give the victim a verbal warning,” the warrant says.
Investigators didn’t reveal how the suspect reacted to being exposed as a fraud.
However, court documents report he later identified himself as deputy in neighboring Buncombe County, and said he was driving a “vehicle issued by Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.”
Henderson County is about a 105-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.
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