A 70-year-old North College Hill man ended up under arrest Friday after police say he kitted himself out like law enforcement without any of the actual authority. According to court documents and police accounts, the man was driving with blue police-style lights and wearing a bulletproof vest with federal-style badges, but could not provide credentials to match. The stop took place in the 2000 block of West Galbraith Road, and the driver was taken to the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Arrest details from court records
A complaint filed in Hamilton County Municipal Court identifies the suspect as Michael Allen, 70. Investigators say Allen had blue police lights mounted on his vehicle and federal police-style patches on his vest. WLWT reviewed the court paperwork and reports that Allen was booked on one count of impersonating a peace officer or private police officer. Police say he was unable to produce proper identification for the badges he was wearing.
Booking and court return
FOX19 reports Allen was taken into custody in the 2000 block of West Galbraith Road and transported to the Hamilton County Justice Center. Court records show he was expected to return to court on Saturday, Feb. 14.
What Ohio law says
Ohio law clearly bans pretending to be the real thing. Under R.C. 2921.51, "No person shall impersonate a peace officer," and basic impersonation is treated as a fourth-degree misdemeanor. The statute also increases the penalties when someone impersonates an officer to help commit another offense or carries out a felony while posing as law enforcement, making those conduct-specific charges more serious misdemeanors or felonies.
How to spot an imposter
Blue lights and shiny badges can be bought online, and when they are misused, they can be powerful tools to scare or stop drivers. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office has previously warned residents that deputies will not call and demand money over the phone; WLWT reported the office asks people to report suspicious contact to 513-825-1500. If you are pulled over by someone claiming to be an officer and something feels off, officials say you can call 911, request to meet at a public, well-lit location, or wait for clearly marked units to arrive.
