A man in San Diego County, California, was arrested Monday after allegedly impersonating a Sheriff’s deputy, and authorities believe he is responsible for at least 10 other phony traffic stops.
Michael Anthony Carmichael, 21, was arrested after a short police chase was sparked by the suspect being noticed by a San Diego County sheriff’s deputy during one of his fake traffic stops, according to authorities.
“Investigators said Carmichael, an Oceanside resident, was dressed in a black polo shirt with county Sheriff’s Department patches, a ballistic vest with large ‘sheriff’ patches across the front and back, a utility belt with several weapons and a fake firearm,” The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
When Carmichael noticed a deputy approaching him while he was in the midst of a bogus traffic stop, he ran back to his car and drove off, NBC San Diego reported. A chase ensued, but the deputy decided to pull back. Carmichael, along with a female passenger, were later found after he crashed his car down an embankment.
“Sheriff’s personnel pulled the suspect out of the car and extinguished a small brush fire sparked by the wreck,” according to NBC7 San Diego. Detectives determined the female with Carmichael was not involved with his alleged illegal impersonation.
The Union-Tribune also noted that investigators found “two replica firearms, brass knuckles, a baton, a fake badge that read ‘special police’ and several other patches that said ‘security’ and ‘SWAT.’”
Officials said Carmichael put red and blue strobe lights across the top of the windshield of a silver 2009 Toyota Camry he was driving. According to jail records, Carmichael was booked on eight felony charges and three misdemeanors, including impersonating a peace officer and false imprisonment, the Union-Tribune noted.
Detectives are now asking other possible victims of the fake traffic stops to come forward with information.