NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - The tables turned quickly for an alleged police impersonator who attempted to pull over a Miami-Dade Police officer.
Friday night, 7News cameras captured 46-year-old Marcos Pacheco-Bustamante being released from Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, hours after he was taken into custody for allegedly impersonating a police officer.
The suspect was seen putting on his jewelry, initially staying silent.
When asked to comment on his charges, Pacheco-Bustamante replied, in Spanish, “I’m not going to say anything. Enough. Leave me alone, please,” as he was released from jail, Friday evening. “I didn’t stop anybody. Enough.”
According to the arrest affidavit, MDPD Officer Alton Martin was on duty, wearing his full MDPD uniform, as he traveled northbound on I-95 in a county-issued unmarked police vehicle.
At around 7:20 a.m., Martin was suddenly startled when he noticed a green, Ford Crown Victoria driven by Pacheco-Bustamante, change lanes behind him and activate police sirens.
“One of the Miami-Dade Police detectives working the overnight, an off-duty, in full uniform, he was driving his unmarked vehicle heading northbound on I-95 when all of a sudden a green Crown Victoria gets behind him,” Detective Jennifer Capote said.
This caused officer Martin to change lanes, yet, police said, Pacheco-Bustamante persisted and continued to follow the unmarked police vehicle.
Martin, believing he was being stopped by a police officer, then pulled over to the shoulder of the road, near Northwest 119th Street.
As officer Martin exited his vehicle, he immediately realized he was dealing with a police impersonator and called into the station.
“He gets out of his vehicle while he’s in full uniform,” Capote added, “so now he approaches the Crown Victoria and realizes this guy — there’s something wrong. He doesn’t look like a cop, so he immediately takes this gentlemen into custody.”
Martin called for backup. Inside of the fraudulent police vehicle, investigators discovered a BB gun that resembled a real gun, complete with a holster, as well as a police blue light.
“This gun looks very real,” Capote said. “I mean, clearly could be mistaken for a real gun.”
Pacheco-Bustamante’s neighbor told 7News that the “cop impersonator” wasn’t shy about walking around with his gun holstered.
“I’ve seen him with a gun,” he said.
Pacheco-Bustamante, who police are calling the “cop impersonator,” was arrested by MDPD Robbery Bureau detectives on the scene. A Metro camera captured the alleged impersonator’s Ford Crown Victoria being towed away from the express lanes.
(Photo courtesy: Miami-Dade Corrections)
After the arrest, Pacheco-Bustamante was interviewed by MDPD Robbery Bureau detectives, where he confessed to activating the sirens and pursuing officer Martin. He also stated he had activated the sirens in the past to alert other drivers who he observed texting and/or speeding.
“Definitely makes notification to the detectives that, yes, he’s done this in the past, that he doesn’t like it when people are texting, that he he doesn’t like when people are speeding,” Capote said. “But we don’t know and we want to know from victims, is what happens when he attempts to make a stop.”
Pacheco-Bustamante was later booked into jail. He has been charged with impersonating a police officer.
MDPD detectives are seeking the assistance of the community in identifying other motorists who may have been victims of, or may have witnessed, these illicit traffic stops.
If you have any information that can help police in their investigation, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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