Man impersonating cop tries to pull over off-duty deputy

A man suspected of posing as a law enforcement officer and trying to stop an off-duty sheriff’s deputy in French Valley was out of custody today.

Johnnie Issa Sellers of Hemet, 21, was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of impersonating a public safety official. He posted a $2,500 bond and was released a few hours later.

According to Riverside County sheriff’s officials, the off-duty deputy, whose identity was not disclosed, was driving on Winchester Road, approaching Murrieta Hot Springs Road, when she noticed a white Dodge Dart pulling close behind her.

The driver of the Dodge activated two flashing emergency lights in his windshield and sounded a police siren via a public address system, according to the sheriff’s department.

The deputy did not believe the driver was a peace officer and contacted sheriff’s dispatch to report what was transpiring, officials said.

After trailing the deputy eastbound on Winchester and apparently realizing that she wasn’t going to pull over, the man passed her, prompting the deputy to snap a photo of the Dodge’s license plate via her mobile phone, according to the sheriff’s department.

Detectives used the information to track down the vehicle to an address on Gilbert Street in Hemet, where the car owner — Sellers — was taken into custody without incident.

Detectives found light strips attached to the vehicle’s upper windshield, as well as an external speaker system allegedly configured like a police siren mounted on the car, sheriff’s officials said.

Sellers has no prior documented felony convictions.

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact Sergeant J. Wade at the Southwest Sheriff’s Station at (951) 696-3000.