A man recently took legal matters into his own hands when he thought he saw a car that his neighbor had reported as stolen. The man claims he called 911 for help and the operator told him to stay close and keep the suspects in sight. When the two people in the allegedly stolen car stopped at a gas station because they were being followed, the man got out and identified himself as a police officer. He claimed that since he was taking orders from the 911 dispatcher and helping the police, that it would be okay to identify himself as such. When police finally did arrive, the people showed proof of ownership of the car and the man was arrested for Impersonating a Peace Officer. The sheriff does not believe that a 911 call was ever even placed by this man. He claims it goes against protocol to have anyone get involved in this type of situation. The dispatchers are trained to advise people to stay back and let the police handle it. I guess only the tapes will tell.
Impersonating a Peace Officer in Weld County
The Colorado law definition of Impersonating a Peace Officer – C.R.S. 18-8-112 – is:
Two elements must be present to charge someone with this crime in Weld, Morgan, and Logan County:
- The person pretends to be a police officer; and
- The person performs an act a police officer would do.
In the case above, the man not only verbally identified himself as a police officer, he also tried to detain the people in the car he thought was stolen. This is an act a real police officer would perform while on duty, so the man’s actions effectively meet the criteria of this crime.
Have you been charged with Impersonating a Police / Peace Officer? Contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today!
Have you been charged with Impersonating a Police / Peace Officer? Contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today!
Sentence for Impersonating a Police Officer in Erie and Evans
As a class 6 felony in Greeley, Berthoud, and Windsor, this type of crime is punishable by 12 to 18 months in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $100,000 in fines. This crime is punished so severely because there needs to be a level of trust with law enforcement. When a person falsely identifies themselves as someone who has earned this position of trust, when they actually have not, it can cause serious issues.
If you or someone you love ahs been charged with Impersonating a Peace Officer, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 to schedule a free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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