A man has been arrested after allegedly using flashing red and blue lights fitted to a Chevrolet pick-up truck to stop a Tesla on Interstate 17 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers were sent to the southbound carriageway near Dove Valley Road at about 8.29am on Thursday, 17 September, following a report of an unauthorised traffic stop.
The driver of the pick-up had reportedly stopped a silver Tesla carrying an adult man and woman. The vehicle was described as an older-model, grey or silver Chevrolet 2500-series pick-up, with emergency-style lights mounted above or behind the dashboard and visible through the windscreen.
The caller remained at the scene and stayed in contact with the Arizona Department of Public Safety while troopers made their way to the area. Officers found that the man who had initiated the stop had no law enforcement authority and was not affiliated with any police agency.
He was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of impersonating a police officer. His identity has not been released.
Authorities are investigating whether the man, or someone using a similarly equipped vehicle, may have stopped other motorists. The driver was described as wearing a red polo shirt, dark jeans and a baseball cap.
Anyone who believes they may have been stopped by the vehicle or driver has been asked to contact the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s tip line on 1-877-4AZ-TIPS.
What to do during a suspected fake police stop
The department said motorists should switch on their hazard lights, slow down and drive to a well-lit, populated location such as a police or fire station, petrol station or open business.
Drivers should call 911 while doing so, provide their location and ask the dispatcher to confirm whether a genuine police unit is attempting to stop them. They should also keep their doors locked and open the window only partially until the officer’s identity has been confirmed.
Arizona law still requires motorists to acknowledge a genuine traffic stop and pull over safely. The guidance is intended to explain how to stop when there are concerns about the person attempting to make the stop, rather than to encourage drivers to evade legitimate police officers.
