Cop Impersonator Arrested After Calling For Backup

[ZDL]

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2009/05/15/story_officer.html?sid=102


ONTARIO, Ohio — A man who investigators said was impersonating a police officer was arrested when officers caught him in the act, 10TV News reported Friday.

The most recent incident occurred about two weeks ago when Fred Heitzman, also known as known as Clyde, tried to pull a woman over.

Sophia Toney said she did not feel safe stopping, so she called police who told her to meet an actual officer at a nearby parking lot, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.

SLIDESHOW: Images From Report

"He had a spotlight on the side of his car like police officers do," Toney said. "When he turned on the rotating light that's when I thought I was in trouble."

Heitzman called the police department and asked for backup.

"This is Fred. Can you have a marked unit meet me at the foot of the bridge?" Heitzman told the dispatcher.

"What police department are you from?" the dispatcher said.

"Um, auxiliary patrol," Heitzman answered.

"From where?" the dispatcher asked.

"Auxiliary state patrol," Heitzman said.

"He is portraying himself as a police officer, which he is not in any shape or form," said Ontario police officer Jason Day.

Pictures from the Ontario police department show Heitzman's pretend police cruiser, fully equipped with lights in the front and back windshields, McEntyre reported.

Heitzman was arrested when an officer was sent to meet Toney in a parking lot. His car was impounded.

Heitzman was charged in two incidents in which police said he pulled over women for traffic violations. In both cases, police said he asked for ID, told the drivers to do better and then let them go.

"I think he believes that he's just doing his part to keep the roadways safe," Day said. "Leave law enforcement to the professionals."

Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for more information.

[JSandi]

I think it was Albert Einstein who said, "The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits".

[SWATcop556]

We have one of those in our jurisdiction. He was once an armored car driver then a security officer. I've personally locked him up but that was after he tried to pull me over while I was on duty....in uniform....driving a marked unit. :confused:

Some people never cease to amaze me.

[Irish]

I see people driving retired marked cars infrequently with the spotlights still on them and occasionally a few antennas. I hate it when people drive "wanna be" cop cars as the only thing I can think of in my mind is that they want to impersonate a police officer for their own bad intentions.
Due to people impersonating officers my wife will not stop without having lots of people around in a well lit place and I fully support her on that. It may piss off a real cop but I'd rather have a ticked off officer than a really bad situation with a nubjob.

[The_War_Wagon]

Let's hope he hasn't bred - just what the gene pool DOESN'T need... :rolleyes:

[pacifico]

A friend of mine (no, not me) owned a retired police car, complete with spotlights, reinforced bumper, and various antennas. It was painted all black. He bought it because it was cheap, powerful, and comfortable enough for the long road trips his job required him to take. As a bonus, most other drivers got out of his way on said trips.

He did not and never has impersonated a police officer, and has never been in or wanted to be in any branch of the military. Think Star Wars fan.

Of course, this is completely different from the original topic of actual police impersonators - those that go far enough to actually pull people over are probably not the kind of people you want doing that.

[Saginaw79]

I see people driving retired marked cars infrequently with the spotlights still on them and occasionally a few antennas. I hate it when people drive "wanna be" cop cars as the only thing I can think of in my mind is that they want to impersonate a police officer for their own bad intentions.
Due to people impersonating officers my wife will not stop without having lots of people around in a well lit place and I fully support her on that. It may piss off a real cop but I'd rather have a ticked off officer than a really bad situation with a nubjob.

OF course it couldnt be the fact that old cars are cheap, available and easily obtained, surely uts all just wannabes :rolleyes:

[Irish]

OF course it couldnt be the fact that old cars are cheap, available and easily obtained, surely uts all just wannabes :rolleyes:

Agree or disagree, I care less. If most people see a retired LEO vehicle and don't think and react to them differently than another cheap, available and easily obtained vehicle I would be highly surprised. Why not wear a concealed carry badge too? http://www.popguns.com/badge_cwp.htm

[Safetyhit]

We have one of those in our jurisdiction. He was once an armored car driver then a security officer. I've personally locked him up but that was after he tried to pull me over while I was on duty....in uniform....driving a marked unit. :confused:

Some people never cease to amaze me.



That would be an extreme understatement in this particular case.

[CarlosDJackal]

I see people driving retired marked cars infrequently with the spotlights still on them and occasionally a few antennas. I hate it when people drive "wanna be" cop cars as the only thing I can think of in my mind is that they want to impersonate a police officer for their own bad intentions.
Due to people impersonating officers my wife will not stop without having lots of people around in a well lit place and I fully support her on that. It may piss off a real cop but I'd rather have a ticked off officer than a really bad situation with a nubjob.

I think you may be painting this situation with a very broad brush. Of the thousands of retired Police Cruisers, there has only been a small percentage that has been misused in this manner. I personally know of an individual who bought one because (a) It was a great deal; and (b) Because it gave him another vehicle to use at the range and around town without adding mileage to his BMW. I would love to get my hands on one for the same purpose; and I am far from a being a wannabe.

FWIW, I agree with your wife about not stopping unless she is in a well-lit area and there are witnesses. I always tell women that they cannot get in trouble by erring on the side of caution as long as they do not try to evade.

I recommend that women take the following steps (or some variation) when they are not sure about the individual who is trying to pull them over:

1) Turn on your 4-way blinkers.
2) Reduce your speed to that of the posted speed limit. This lets the Officer know that you have seen them and are acknowledging their presence.
3) Dial 9-1-1 and inform them of where you are and your situation. Request that another marked unit be dispatched to intercept you or meet you at a well-lit area.
4) If you do not find an area that you can safely pull over AND is well-lit AND has witnesses, keep going.
5) Once a second marked unit arrives at your scene AND the 9-1-1 dispatcher has assured you that both of them are legitimate LEOs, pull over at the first SAFE PLACE you come across. DO NOT hang up on the 9-1-1 dispatcher until you feel safe. It would not hurt to ask them of the Officers' names and/or Unit/Badge number for verification.
6) Once you have pulled over, DO NOT open your window all the way unless you verify that the individuals approaching you are legitimate.

[cougar_guy04]

I think you may be painting this situation with a very broad brush. Of the thousands of retired Police Cruisers, there has only been a small percentage that has been misused in this manner. I personally know of an individual who bought one because (a) It was a great deal; and (b) Because it gave him another vehicle to use at the range and around town without adding mileage to his BMW. I would love to get my hands on one for the same purpose; and I am far from a being a wannabe.
Agreed. I was planning on hitting the FHP auctions when I moved down here to find a replacement for my 96 Mercury Cougar and there weren't many cars that fit my wants/needs (plenty of cargo/people room, 4-doors, V8, RWD, under $10k). The Crown Vic appealed to me for several reasons outside of that as well (proven track record, abundance of spare parts, huge trunk, decent fuel economy for what it is) and I liked the idea of a P71 for the extras (dual exhaust, heavier suspension, etc.). I guess had I bought a retied P71 from the FHP I'd be lumped in with this looney basket. Good thing I bought a P74 that a grandma/grandpa had traded in instead.

I will say though, the Vic rides smooooth on the Interstate . . . and down here in God's Waiting Room a gold Crown Vic might as well be urban camo. :D

[/hijack]

[ZDL]

I think you may be painting this situation with a very broad brush. Of the thousands of retired Police Cruisers, there has only been a small percentage that has been misused in this manner. I personally know of an individual who bought one because (a) It was a great deal; and (b) Because it gave him another vehicle to use at the range and around town without adding mileage to his BMW. I would love to get my hands on one for the same purpose; and I am far from a being a wannabe.

FWIW, I agree with your wife about not stopping unless she is in a well-lit area and there are witnesses. I always tell women that they cannot get in trouble by erring on the side of caution as long as they do not try to evade.

I recommend that women take the following steps (or some variation) when they are not sure about the individual who is trying to pull them over:

1) Turn on your 4-way blinkers.
2) Reduce your speed to that of the posted speed limit. This lets the Officer know that you have seen them and are acknowledging their presence.
3) Dial 9-1-1 and inform them of where you are and your situation. Request that another marked unit be dispatched to intercept you or meet you at a well-lit area.
4) If you do not find an area that you can safely pull over AND is well-lit AND has witnesses, keep going.
5) Once a second marked unit arrives at your scene AND the 9-1-1 dispatcher has assured you that both of them are legitimate LEOs, pull over at the first SAFE PLACE you come across. DO NOT hang up on the 9-1-1 dispatcher until you feel safe. It would not hurt to ask them of the Officers' names and/or Unit/Badge number for verification.
6) Once you have pulled over, DO NOT open your window all the way unless you verify that the individuals approaching you are legitimate.

Good luck with that. Perhaps with an unmarked unit something like this could get pulled and pay off but the cases in which this wouldn't result in an unnecessary escalation of the situation are slim.

Blinkers on, pull to the RIGHT, slow down, drive to lit and populated area.

PASSING lit and populated areas while using the phone (which we can see you doing) is not a great idea. 911 call taker would have to relay that info to dispatch who would relay it to us (if she didn't attempt to filter such a strange request through her supervisor and mine first) AND another unit would need to be available... AND nearby..... Can't just drive around for 20 mins waiting for another unit to clear and get to you just so you can pull over cause your husband/bf/friend said to do it this way. Just wouldn't end well is all I'm saying.

[Heavy Metal]

We have one of those in our jurisdiction. He was once an armored car driver then a security officer. I've personally locked him up but that was after he tried to pull me over while I was on duty....in uniform....driving a marked unit. :confused:

Some people never cease to amaze me.

Some people's purpose in life is solely to provide amusement for the rest of us.

[killswitch1982]

There is a guy like this in my neighborhood. He thinks he's some kind of emergency responder. He is mentally ill and doesn't know better and, even though the police have told him to stop it, he keeps on doing crazy stuff like this.

He has yellow flashers in his car and he will direct traffic if the stop lights are out, or pull over to help EMS and Fire Units, even as they are screaming at him to get the hell away. All with his equally mentally ill wife in the car waiting for him.

[Gutshot John]

Elwood: You don't like it?
Jake: No I don't like it...
[Elwood Blues floors the pedal and jumps over an open drawbridge]
Jake: Car's got a lot of pickup.
Elwood: It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?
[a brief thinking pause while Jake throws the cigarette lighter out the window]
Jake: Fix the cigarette lighter.

[killswitch1982]

Elwood: You don't like it?
Jake: No I don't like it...
[Elwood Blues floors the pedal and jumps over an open drawbridge]
Jake: Car's got a lot of pickup.
Elwood: It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?
[a brief thinking pause while Jake throws the cigarette lighter out the window]
Jake: Fix the cigarette lighter.

Dude, as I was reading this post "Can't Turn You Loose" from the Blues Brothers soundtrack came up on my iTunes rotation. I kid you not!:D

[Heavy Metal]

Dude, as I was reading this post "Can't Turn You Loose" from the Blues Brothers soundtrack came up on my iTunes rotation. I kid you not!:D

I think God does this sometimes just to see if we are paying attention.

[markm]

There's a guy in my neighborhood that has an old Caprice Classic retired copper car... the rounded body style, painted black and white.

Instead of "to protect and serve", he painted "to torture and enslave" or some such nonsense on the vehicle. We have a variety of ASU college ****tards in our neighborhood.

There is a cult following for the CVPI police cars. Not too many of the fans of the "panther" cars are cop wannabees. It's like anything else, the dumbest of the lot make everyone look bad.

[Caeser25]

I always wanted a black one, There's a borough down the street that has an all blacked out Dodge Charger unit

[CleverNickname]

There's a guy in my neighborhood that has an old Caprice Classic retired copper car... the rounded body style, painted black and white.

Instead of "to protect and serve", he painted "to torture and enslave" or some such nonsense on the vehicle. We have a variety of ASU college ****tards in our neighborhood.

He might just be a Transformers fan.

[killswitch1982]

I think God does this sometimes just to see if we are paying attention.


I think God does a lot of stuff to see if we're paying attention. Sadly, a lot of us aren't.