Authorities say a Houston man took it upon himself to play cop on a busy stretch of U.S. 59, flipping on emergency-style lights, pulling over multiple drivers near Interstate 45, and doing it all while intoxicated.
Investigators allege the driver got at least six vehicles to stop on the shoulder before real officers stepped in. By then, they say, he had already admitted to both drinking and pulling people over, and he is now facing a felony case along with court-ordered bond conditions.
How investigators say it unfolded
According to court documents reviewed by FOX 26 Houston, 42-year-old Fernando Reyes Moreno was driving a Chevy Traverse on 59 South near I-45 when he allegedly activated what looked like blue-and-white flashing emergency lights on his vehicle.
Investigators say Moreno pulled in behind other cars, prompting motorists to move onto the shoulder as if they were being stopped by law enforcement. A 911 caller reported the Traverse as behaving suspiciously, and court records state Moreno caused at least six drivers to pull over before he drove away.
Officers later stopped the vehicle, where they reported finding an open container in the passenger seat and noted that Moreno appeared intoxicated. According to the documents, Moreno admitted to drinking two Modelo beers and to pulling people over.
Charges and legal exposure
Court records state that Moreno is charged with impersonating a public servant and with driving while intoxicated. A judge set his bond at $2,500 and imposed several conditions, including installation of an ignition interlock device and bans on having weapons, alcohol, or controlled substances while his case is pending.
Impersonating a public servant is defined in Texas Penal Code §37.11 as a third-degree felony. A conviction at that level carries the potential penalties laid out in Texas Penal Code Sec. 12.34 - generally two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The driving-while-intoxicated charge carries its own range of possible penalties and can factor into any eventual sentencing if prosecutors move forward and secure a conviction.
How this fits a local pattern
Cases of people pretending to be officers are not new to the Houston area. Local reporting in past years has highlighted incidents where individuals outfitted cars with lights, tried to stop drivers, and, in some instances, even attempted to pull over undercover officers. Those episodes have led to law enforcement reminders on how to spot and report possible impersonators.
Prosecutors are expected to move the case through Harris County courts, relying on the evidence laid out in the filings. Any additional victims or witnesses could be contacted as the investigation continues. The information in this article is drawn from court documents reviewed by FOX 26 Houston and from state statutes detailing the alleged offenses.
