VICTORVILLE, Calif. (KNX) — An Ohio man was arrested in Victorville for allegedly posing as a police officer to multiple victims, according to the Victorville Police Department.
Rudy Reed, an 18-year-old from Toledo, Oh. was arrested Dec. 15 during a traffic stop of a Crown Victoria near La Mesa and Petaluma Roads, police said.
“The vehicle appeared to be an unmarked sheriff’s patrol vehicle which contained several law enforcement specific characteristics including a black push bar, dash-cam, interior mounted emergency lights, sirens, antennas, “police interceptor” badges and rims, and police specific identifying numbers on the trunk,” police said in a statement.
During a search of the vehicle, officers said they found ballistic armor, an “imitation firearm,” pepper spray, LAPD patches and other types of police gear.
Reed, the driver of the vehicle, was wearing a “Toledo Police” sweatshirt at the time of the traffic stop.
Prior to the traffic stop, deputies said they had seen Reed “responding to traffic collisions and illegally positioning his Crown Victoria in the roadway in a manner law enforcement does to block traffic during collision investigations.”
In a follow up search warrant visit to his residence, the Victorville Gang Enforcement Team found LAPD uniforms, LAPD badges and patches and a hat from California Highway Patrol, among other items that could be used to impersonate a law enforcement official, police said.
“Additional radio and lighting equipment, multiple imitation firearms, police duty belts equipped with radios, imitation tasers, handcuffs and gun holsters were [also] located,” police said.
Anyone with information about Reed, or who believes they may have been a victim of his alleged crimes, is asked to call the Victorville Police Department at 760-241-2911 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001.
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