A routine Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department traffic stop in Windsor Hills turned into a bizarre scene Tuesday when a man sprinted into the street, declared himself an off-duty Culver City police officer, and ended up under arrest.
Deputies had just pulled over a red Ford Mustang for several moving violations after it was reportedly following a dark sedan, authorities said. In the middle of that stop, the sedan’s driver came back, ran into the roadway, and identified himself as an off-duty Culver City cop. Instead, investigators later determined, he was a Culver City animal control officer. The 34-year-old was taken into custody and later transferred to the Culver City police for follow-up, according to law enforcement sources.
According to NBC Los Angeles, deputies said the driver of the dark sedan initially drove away, then returned and "frantically" ran into the middle of the street to make the off-duty officer claim. Deputies booked the man, identified as a Culver City animal control officer, at the Marina del Rey station before citing and releasing him to the Culver City Police Department, which is handling the investigation. The Mustang driver told deputies everything was okay, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which supplied the initial details to NBC4 Investigates.
Legal consequences for impersonation
Impersonating a peace officer is a crime in California and can come with both jail time and fines. Penal Code 538d makes it a misdemeanor to willfully wear or use a law-enforcement uniform, badge, or other insignia with the intent to fraudulently impersonate an officer, with penalties that can include up to one year in county jail and fines. The statute also makes it illegal to sell law enforcement uniforms without verification. For the full statutory language, see California Penal Code 538d via the California Legislature.
Why the incident matters locally
Culver City and nearby communities have seen impersonation issues before, and law enforcement officials say these kinds of incidents are not just odd; they are dangerous. They can erode public trust and escalate encounters that are already tense.
In a 2022 Culver City case, a man was found wearing a vest labeled "POLICE" and possessing weapons components, ABC7 Los Angeles reported, a reminder of why officers keep urging people to verify credentials. Officials say clearly visible agency identification and basic verification steps can help motorists confirm whether someone is a legitimate officer before they comply.
What happens next
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it has handed the case over to the Culver City Police Department for follow-up, and the local agency will decide whether to seek charges, NBC Los Angeles reports.
Separately, California lawmakers last year passed SB-805, which requires non-uniformed officers to visibly display their agency and either a name or badge number when performing enforcement duties. Supporters say the law helps both the public and other officers confirm someone’s identity more easily. The full bill text is available from the California Legislature. Culver City police will be the primary contact for any updates on the investigation.
