Man poses as police officer, tries to pull over deputy chief, sheriff says

METAIRIE, La. (WVUE/Gray News) - A man impersonating a police officer attempted to pull over a pickup truck that happened to be driven by a real deputy chief, authorities in Louisiana said.

Justin Marshall, 36, of Slidell, was taken into custody shortly after the incident on Interstate 10, according to Sgt. Brandon Veal, a spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The deputy chief, driving an unmarked Ford F-250, saw a white SUV with a Fraternal Order of Police license plate driving recklessly on I-10 near the Bonnabel Boulevard exit, the sheriff’s office said.

Marshall, the SUV’s driver, activated flashing blue lights he’d mounted on his vehicle to initiate a fake traffic stop, Veal said. Ignoring the impersonator’s maneuver, the deputy initiated a legitimate traffic stop.

Marshall was found not to have a police commission or badge, and Veal said authorities determined he was not a law enforcement officer. He had to be physically restrained when he was taken into custody.

Deputies reportedly found a gun and a police radio in the vehicle.

Marshall was booked into jail on a count of false personation of a peace officer.

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