Fake cop pulled over by the real thing

[Buz]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localne...bgfakecop.html

Fake cop, sirens blaring, pulled over by the real thing
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By KEVIN DEUTSCH

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, March 21, 2008

BOYTON BEACH — A Palm Beach Gardens firefighter impersonating a police officer took his act to a whole other level Thursday night, driving 100 miles per hour to pull over a speeding vehicle on Interstate 95 and activating an elaborate siren system in his Toyota pickup before a real cop busted him, Boynton Beach police said today.

The faux cop, Terry Scott Petruzzi, 39, gave chase to a speeding Nissan pickup truck before the Boynton Beach police officer pulled both trucks over shortly before 7 p.m., police said.

A look inside Petruzzi's truck revealed sirens, a police radio scanner and a dashboard-mounted video recording system. He carried a fully loaded 9 millimeter handgun with one bullet in the chamber.

He also carried extra ammunition, handcuffs and a badge that read "Private Investigator," police said.

The Nissan's driver, Matthew Paul Loguidice, 24, admitted to speeding and was given a ticket by the real officer.

Petruzzi declined to comment when reached by phone this morning.

He was earlier booked into Palm Beach County Jail on a charge of impersonating an officer.

[whiterabbit05]

hahaha, why would a firefighter do that????

and that nissan guy shouldnt have admitted to anything...

[jerry540i]

hahaha, why would a firefighter do that????

and that nissan guy shouldnt have admitted to anything...

He could have admitted to trying to flee for his life from this crazy guy chasing him, pointing a gun at him etc.

J/

[Asleeper]

Similar thing happened here in VA:

Police Impersonator Arrested After Stopping Off-duty
Fairfax County Police Officer
Police arrested Steven Rivas, 19, of 7801 Ridgewood Drive in Annandale around 1 a.m. Saturday, January 5 after he pulled over an off-duty Fairfax County Police officer on her way home from work. Rivas was parked in a lot next to Woodburn Elementary School in a 2004 gold Ford Explorer when he pulled onto Gallows Road and followed the officer. He activated blue lights, signaling for the officer to stop on the northbound ramp to I-495. After Rivas allegedly identified himself as an undercover police officer, the authentic officer identified herself and asked to see his badge and credentials. Rivas returned to his car and pulled away, with blue and white lights still activated.

The real officer got the license plate number and provided it to the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications Center. Officers then responded to the Annandale home where Rivas was subsequently arrested. He was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged with impersonating a police officer, reckless driving, use of unauthorized lights and abduction.

[maxima lover]

What an A hole to ticket the Nissan driver.

[Lucky225]

Man, it's fake 5-0 season or something, i just heard a call on the scanner from a police officer's wife who called dispatch to tell them an impersonator was trying to pull her over but then bailed.

[dpatel01]

Nowadays its too easy to find red/blue strobe lights at your local Advance Auto Parts or Autozone, and sirens from aftermarket security systems aren't hard to come by either. Sure the packaging for the lights may indicate "for show only" or "not for use on public roads" but who in their right mind actually believes that people who buy these things are doing so for shows or use on private property?

If they want to cut back on police impersonators, they should pull red/blue off the shelf and let the car show people choose from green/orange/yellow or whatever other colors are left.

Seems to be a problem in my town too..I've read many stories in the local paper of police impersonators getting nabbed by the real LEOs.

[Lucky225]

yea, I've seen blue lights at wal*mart in the autoparts section, I was like what the hell?

[erickonphoenix]

I'm glad these incidents are piling up. Hopefully it will put an end to this unmarked car BS. The stuff I hear some states pulling really makes my blood boil. In Texas all our unmarked cars are Crown Vics or Chargers so they're relatively easy to spot. Still, if I have clear road ahead of me. I won't stop for any of them.

[insertquarter]

Saw an Unmarked Black 2002 Mustang w/ a Customer Pulled Over the Other Day. Had the Red/Blue Lightz and Had Some Form of Ka Working Cuz I Detected em on the V955...

Can't Stand Unmarked Carz, Almost Seemz Cheap to Pull Someone Over Like That...