Long Island, NY – Fake Cop arrested Over LIE Traffic Stop

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    Juan Santiago, left, drove a 2005 Crown Victoria, right, which had been altered to look like an unmarked police patrol car, the sheriffs office said. (Handout / May 12, 2009)Long Island, NY – Call it conduct unbecoming a wanna-be officer.

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    A Middle Island man was arrested after a deputy sheriff saw him flashing emergency lights in a white Ford Crown Victoria to pull over a minivan on the Long Island Expressway Tuesday and interview the driver while wearing a body armor vest and a patch, authorities said.

    When the deputy sheriff asked who he worked for, Juan Santiago, 39, of Winterberry Drive called himself a “volunteer” and told him, “I’m just helping you guys out,” according to authorities.

    At about 6:05 a.m. Tuesday in the westbound HOV enforcement lane near exit 57, Deputy Sheriff Michael Brecht initially pulled over to assist Santiago but became suspicious during their conversation and when Santiago could not produce a police ID, according to Chief Michael Sharkey of the Suffolk County sheriff’s department.

    Santiago also asked Brecht if he was going to write the motorist a ticket for speeding, a comment that is “unusual for an officer to say to another officer,” Sharkey said.

    When Brecht told Santiago he could not write the motorist a ticket for a violation he did not witness, “the guy got this puzzled look on his face,” Sharkey said.

    Santiago was arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree criminal impersonation. He is being held at the Suffolk County Jail on $10,000 cash bail and is due back in court Monday. It was unclear if Santiago ever actually said he was a law enforcement officer, but Sharkey said the nature of the incident made it a crime.

    “A citizen cannot instigate a traffic stop,” Sharkey said, and pointed out that Santiago had dressed for the part.

    Santiago flashed a pistol license to the motorist, which looks like an official document of identification, though he was not armed at the time of the incident, Sharkey said. He also was wearing boots and dark clothes that had a partially visible patch on the shirt, authorities said. His vehicle had the “full police package,” including lights and a scanner, as well as a Crime Stoppers sticker, according to the sheriff’s office.

    Investigators say that anyone who has had contact with Santiago under similar circumstances should call the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau at 631-852-2290.

    Attempts to reach Santiago and his family were unsuccessful Tuesday. Sharkey said Santiago worked for an ice cream company and had no criminal history.


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    23 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    that is bizarre!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    not the first time this happened

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Guess he was looking for easy employment and money in this recession. not bad!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    If you let this guy get away with it who knows who will do it next and be successful.

    lawrence yid
    lawrence yid
    14 years ago

    VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE GUYS ARRESTED! SOMEONE WAS KILLED IN FAR ROCKAWAY WITH THE SAME SCENARIO! ALSO THESE TYPE OF GUYS CAN TRY TO ABUSE YOUNG BOYS OR GIRLS USING THIS TECHNIQUE. WE ALL MUST BE VIGILANT ABOUT REPORTING THIS TYPE OF CRIME!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Thats why I never stop for unmarked cars. It’s just plain unsafe.

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    14 years ago

    …”he had no criminal record”… Now he does! Just look at that [beatific] smile on his face and you could see that he is a [dangerous] meshiggener!!! I was stopped once, by an old man, who came out of nowhere and did not have a typical [unmarked] Police vehicle. He had an old, beaten-up 2-door light blue Chevy and he himself looked like he ran away from an old-age home! No uniform. Just a worn cap and a badge smaller than the typical NYPD badge! The amazing thing is that I paid the speeding? ticket and the payment was accepted, but no record of the incident ever came up. Only thing I know for certain that was real is the money!!!

    Avrohom Abba
    Avrohom Abba
    14 years ago

    My guess is that this guy’s picture should be publicized and put on TV also. There will probably be a lot of interesting information that would be called in about this wannabe.

    duvi
    duvi
    14 years ago

    if you get pulled over by an unmarked car i think you can call 911 to make sure it is a real cop. Everyone should be very careful from these weirdos, and take precautions. Unfortunately there have been other cases of people being pulled over by unmarked cars with a much less happy ending.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    This guy looks & sounds mentally sick! Ugh!

    AAA
    AAA
    14 years ago

    According to AAA if u feel uncomfortable stopping for an unmarked car either call 911 or drive to a public area where people can see u or wait for a marked car to pull u over. The same applies for an undercover officer knocking on ur door. Call 911 or ur local police number. They will tell u if the guy is legit or not. BETTER BE SAFE THEN SORRY.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I had the same story a guy from the car service on 13th Ave. & 50th Street, he flashed a badge at me & said I better move my car so that he could park & if I don’t he’ll have me arrested. So be careful with those phony car service drivers they can be dangerous.

    VISA PUNIM
    VISA PUNIM
    14 years ago

    i ONCE didnt stop for an unmarked car and it followed me home (I WAS ONLY A FEW HOUSES AWAY FROM MINE)when it pulled into my driveway i explained to him that im nervouse about these things!!!HE LAFHED AND SAID I HAVE APOINT AND I DIDNT EVEN GIVE ME A TICKET!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    every other guy in Borough park thinks they are an undercover cop, and the put a thousand lights a sirens on there car. why is this guy different?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    most unmaked cop cars are very obvious that they are undercover if your not sure then call the cops and ask them what to do just use caution and keep your eyes open for weird things and always ask for id by unmaked cars and dont forget to enjoy life

    Retired PD
    Retired PD
    14 years ago

    I see a lot of “what ifs” and imaginary scenarios here. Problem is there is no concrete rules for what to do or not do when stopped by an unmarked car ( and there are no set rules about WHAT kind of cars are used , I’ve seen SUV’s, camaro’s, mustangs and even a mini van! ) EXCEPT the law in almost all jurisdictions REQUIRE you to stop for the ( real ) POLICE. If you don’t you may incur the wrath of a now irate officer ( because you ignored his signals to stop ) and possibly an extra ticket for “failure to comply.” He might suspect your inebriated and require you to take field sobriety tests. Every situation is different but (most) officer’s making a traffic stop will understand if you SLOW DOWN and put your flashers on and hand signal ( try pointing over the roof to the right that your pulling over ) to the officer that you DO see him. Pulling over off the highway in a better lighted public area is fine IF it’s not five miles down the road. You can explain yourself to the officer after he speaks to you. It’s also safer for the OFFICER. THEY are in more danger during routine traffic stops then the average citizen will ever be in their entire lifetime! . As far as calling 911 to “verify” not a bad idea but what do you tell them? “An unmarked car is pulling me over on highway 66” Your not going to have many details about the car or the person driving it until AFTER they approach you and if it IS an officer he will not want you “conversing” on the phone while he’s trying to conduct a traffic stop. He may tell you to end the call. You can call 911 BEFORE you come to a stop ( use your headset for safety and IF permitted by law and when the officer gets out to approach you tell the dispatcher your setting your phone down on the dash to speak with the officer who is now approaching ) They can listen in. When you do speak to the officer explain why you pulled off where you did and inform him/her you have 911 on the line because he/she has an unmarked car. One last important item not touched on here by anyone yet. What were you doing when you were stopped? Were you speeding? Did you possibly run a red light? I’m not going to get into ” Well the light really wasn’t red or I wasn’t really going THAT fast” That’s for traffic court, This forum is about how should you handle being the subject of an unmarked traffic stop and that’s the only reason I am raising the question WHAT WERE YOU DOING? Common Sense. Assume that it IS the real police and act accordingly but use reasonable caution until you are sure in your mind he/she is the real deal. Just don’t do anything illegal thinking you can explain it all away. and DRIVE SAFE!