Michigan Man Impersonates Cop, Pulls Over Actual Cop

Growing up, playing cops and robbers was an integral part of recess in grade school. We never thought anything of it while we were doing it, it was just a fun thing to do with friends. But, for most of us, that imaginative part of us disappeared at some point without us even realizing it.

But did it for everyone?

Impersonating a Police Officer

According to Legal Match, impersonating a police officer is determined by the following:

- Dressing in a police uniform

- Using red and blue flashing lights on your vehicle. Because in many states, using equipment that is used by law enforcement is considered to be a crime.

- Using or flashing a counterfeit, fake, or stolen police badge.

- "Simply leading someone to believe you are an officer of the law." However that may be proven, as it is a bit vague.

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Penalties for Impersonating a Police Officer

According to the Michigan P enal Code, subsection (1) of 750.217c states: "A person shall not impersonate, falsely represent, or falsely act as a public officer or public employee and prepare, issue, serve, execute, or otherwise act to further the operation of any legal process or unauthorized process that affects or purports to affect persons or property." The following penalties are in place:

Subsection 2: A person who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more that 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

Subsection 3: A person who violates subsection (1) after a prior conviction for violating subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 3 years, or a fine of not more than $1,500, or both.

Subsection 4: A person who violates subsection (1) after 2 or more prior convictions for violating subsection (1) is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years, or a fine of not more than $2,000, or both.

Don't Attempt to Pull Over an Off-Duty Police Officer

So, when 18-year-old Christian Katan Mansoor of Macomb Twp flashed the red and blue lights on the BMW he was driving and attempted a traffic stop in Rochester Hills around 11 p.m. on Monday, April 3rd., it's likely safe to assume that he had no idea he was attempting to pull over an off-duty police officer.

According to NBC News, during the confrontation, Mansoor claimed he was a Detroit Police officer from the 12th Precinct. When asked for identification, he said he needed to get it from his vehicle. According to the officer, he then went back to his car and drove away.

It was further reported by NBC News that Mansoor was later seen by deputies switching license plates from one vehicle to another that he owned, and was arrested after a short on-foot chase.

Arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of impersonating an officer, Mansoor was released on $5,000 bond.

That's a pretty expensive game of cops and robbers. Let's hope he won't be playing again.

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