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Gilbert Police: Fake cop pulls over real cop
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The vehicle police say Charles Grubbs was driving in while impersonating an officer. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GILBERT POLICE
A 70-year-old man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of impersonating a police officer after he tried to stop a real, off-duty officer for speeding.
Watch Tribune reporter Nicole Beyer's report
The car and equipment used by Charles Grubbs was so convincing that the real officer, David Bishop, thought for a moment that Grubbs was on the job, Gilbert police Sgt. Mark Marino said on Monday.
“The officer wrote in his report, ‘I thought I made a mistake and this appeared to be a legitimate law enforcement officer,’” Marino said. He added that Bishop was initially worried because he had baited Grubbs to stop him by driving in excess of the speed limit.
But when Grubbs got out of his car, the real officer knew he wasn’t legitimate.
“(Bishop) identified himself as an officer and this other guy went, ‘Oops,’” Marino said of Grubbs.
Impersonating a police officer is a felony, Marino said.
Grubbs was arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer and then released pending a review of the case by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Grubbs told ABC-15 News he didn’t pull over Bishop, but he chased him down because he was going 65 mph in a 45 mph zone. Grubbs said his vehicle is a Honda Accord he bought in Florida. He also said he had been in law enforcement at one time.
Grubbs couldn’t be reached for further comment Monday.
Before Bishop spotted Grubbs’ vehicle Saturday, Gilbert police had received reports of a car resembling a police unit seen around town.
Marino said there were no reports of anyone getting pulled over by someone impersonating an officer until Saturday at noon when Grubbs pulled over Bishop.
Bishop was on his way to work when he spotted the black-and-white vehicle.
It was equipped with front and back flashing lights, a radio antenna and air horn.
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Nicole Beyer of ABC-15 News contributed to this report.
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