MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A 57-year-old man from southwest Miami-Dade was arrested Tuesday on accusations that he was impersonating a police officer and trying to pull over vehicles.
According to an arrest report, a Miami-Dade police officer responded to the area of Southwest 120th Street and 122nd Avenue in reference to a Be On the Lookout that was issued for a driver who was trying to pull over vehicles in a “traffic stop manner.”
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The officer didn’t find the vehicle but ran the license plate that was issued on the BOLO and responded to the registered owner’s home, the report stated.
Authorities said the officer arrived at the home and spotted a red Mercedes-Benz with the same license plate number and saw that the vehicle had lights in the rear and front window panels that could easily be seen from outside the car.
According to the arrest report, the officer was met at the front door of the home by Jesus Montesino, who identified himself as a retired city of Miami police officer with 19 years of service.
“The arrestee went on to say he has seen things no one should ever have to see from his past police career,” the arrest report stated.
Police said Montesino was not able to provide any proof of his supposed police career and his wife, who the vehicle is registered to, admitted that her husband has never been a police officer but once worked as a bail bondsman 19 years ago.
Police said Montesino’s wife told them that her husband was the primary driver of the car and she gave the responding officer permission to search it.
According to the arrest report, the officer found functioning red and blue police light bars in the front and rear window panels, a police siren with a control panel in the trunk of the vehicle, a police intercom that was not installed and a police flashlight.
Police said Montesino claimed that he had the lights installed to get through the construction being conducted at the entrance of his complex.
Montesino was ultimately arrested on charges of falsely impersonating an officer, unlawful use of a police badge and prohibited use of certain blue lights.