Trust under the siren: Colorado man arrested for using fake police vehicle

BY PARKER GORDON, HANNA POWERS | KDVR – FOX 31

“DENVER (KDVR) — A man has been arrested after allegedly using “police-like lights” while maneuvering through traffic on Interstate 25.

On Tuesday, the Lone Tree Police Department announced that Terry Ray Pendleton, 58, was arrested on a charge of impersonating a police officer The police department said that Pendleton’s vehicle, a black 2021 Ford Explorer, was allegedly equipped with “red and blue lights” and had an “audible siren and public address system.” The incident occurred on I-25, where the department said Pendleton allegedly used the “police-like lights” while driving through traffic “It is important to note that Pendleton has never been employed in law enforcement,” said the Lone Tree department.

Lone Tree Police Chief Kirk Wilson told FOX31’s Hanna Powers that the crime is not just illegal — it erodes confidence in real officers. “It’s a class five felony, and again, it probably doesn’t seem like that serious of a charge, but you could imagine, someone doing that could commit a very serious crime in addition to impersonating a police officer. It undermines public trust in law enforcement,” Wilson said.

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