Accused Police Impersonator Picks Wrong Driver To Pull Over

DENVER (CBS4) - A man accused of impersonating a police officer in Denver picked the wrong victim.

According to police, on Sept. 5, Robert Montoya "illuminated blue and white flashing emergency strobe lights inside his vehicle" in an attempt to pull over a driver who turned out to be a Denver police detective in an unmarked cruiser.

The incident occurred on Interstate 25 near the Mousetrap in broad daylight.

"The detective aired the incident and apprised dispatch of his location," police said in a statement.

Officers responded and were able to locate Montoya's vehicle near Park Avenue West and Blake Street.

Montoya, 47, was arrested and faces charges for impersonation of a police officer. His dark gray Chevy Impala has been impounded. Along with the lights, it also had a scanner on the dashboard and a laptop mounted on a stand. Montoya was also in possession of handcuffs.

"Very lucky for us, very unlucky for this individual," Cmdr. Paul Pazen with Denver Police said. "The fact that somebody would go to this level to try to present themselves as law enforcement is very concerning."

In order to stop police impersonation cases a new city ordinance has given Denver police the ability to take a police impersonation suspect's car and crush it, destroying all of the gear inside. Montoya's car will be destroyed.

"We want to make sure that anyone else that is out there trying to replicate this type of situation, that they are forewarned that our goal is to make sure these vehicles are taken of the street," Pazen said.

Montoya's motive isn't known.