A 14-year-old California boy accused of pretending to be a deputy sheriff was arrested, authorities said on Wednesday.
The unidentified teen was taken into custody on Tuesday after deputies found counterfeit money, fake guns, ballistic vests and other law enforcement-related items in his home, San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials said.
He allegedly posed as a sheriff in several incidents in San Bernardino County, including one in which he allegedly initiated a traffic stop on an unsuspecting drive.
The teen is also said to have driven in a white Ford Explorer equipped with flashing blue and red lights, reported the San Bernardino Sun.
A 14-year-old boy from Victorville, California, was arrested on Tuesday for pretending to be a deputy sheriff and driving around in a white Ford Explorer equipped with flashing blue and red lights (pictured)
He allegedly posed as a sheriff in several incidents in San Bernardino County in two incidents, where he approached homes and said he was investigating a domestic disturbance call (pictured)
The probe was launched a day earlier when the boy pulled into a driveway in the 13600 block of Mica Avenue in Victorville, according to a news release from the Victorville Police Department.
The teen told residents of the home he was there to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance.
Authorities said he was dressed in a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department uniform, complete with a belt holster that contained a firearm.
The homeowner told him that no one in the residence had placed the call and closed the door. The teen tried to open it, but it was locked.
A further investigation revealed two additional incidents on Monday night when the teen allegedly impersonated a law enforcement officer, including one where police say he pulled over a female motorist in the area of Amethyst Road.
The suspect was able to get the driver’s information and he let her go with a warning, according to the release.
In one case, he allegedly initiated a traffic stop on an unsuspecting female driver and let her off ‘with a warning’. He was dressed in a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department uniform, complete with a belt holster that contained a firearm (pictured)
During a search of the boy’s home, detectives found the uniform worn during the three incidents as well as counterfeit money, fake guns, ballistic vests and other law enforcement-related items (pictured)
The unidentified boy, who was on probation at the time of his arrest, was arrested and booked at the High Desert Juvenile Detention Center
In another case, the teen activated his emergency lights in the area of Cobalt Road, prompting a 16-year-old boy to come out of his home.
Like in the first case, the teen said he was responding to the residence to investigate a domestic disturbance call. He left upon being told there was no disturbance at the location, according to the release.
Authorities learned the teen was the great-grandson of the vehicle’s registered owner, with whom he lived, Victorville sheriff’s station spokeswoman Maria Rodriguez told the Sun.
During a search of the boy’s home, detectives found the uniform worn during the three incidents as well as other various items including the ballistic vests and fake firearms.
The boy, who was on probation at the time of his arrest, was arrested and booked at the High Desert Juvenile Detention Center.