Man under investigation for lying about being deputy in Oakland County

Suspect approached woman after she ran stop sign in Waterford Township

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A 21-year-old man is under investigation for allegedly impersonating an Oakland County Sheriff's deputy.

According to Waterford Township police, just before midnight on June 29, a woman said she disregarded a stop sign at the intersection of South Avery and Beechgrove streets.

Immediately after, the woman saw an unknown man shining a flashlight and signaling her to stop.

When she continued driving, the man got into a dark colored Chevy Impala and began to follow her.

The woman drove passed her house and continued to a well-lit public place to call police.

When she got out of her vehicle, the man pulled up behind her and approached her wearing camouflage pants and a black T-shirt with the word "Sheriff" on the front.

The woman told officers that she thought the man had a gun.

The man told the woman that he saw her run the stop sign and that he had been asked to keep an eye on things due to the numerous parties and fireworks with the approaching holiday. He then got in his car and left.

Officers went back to the South Avery and Beechgrove location where they located a man matching the description.

The suspect, a 21-year-old man from Grosse Pointe Park, told officers he was a deputy with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office who had just been transferred to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

The firearm was located and identified as an airsoft pistol.

They also found a black "Maglite" flashlight and laptop computer in the vehicle.

After further investigation, the suspect admitted he was not an employee of either department

The suspect was arrested for driving with a suspended license.

He was booked and later released pending issuance of a warrant.

The incident will be presented to the Oakland County Prosecutors Office for review on the charge of Impersonating an Officer.

Anyone who was approached by the suspect, or has any information about the investigation is asked to contact the Waterford Police Department at 248-618-7550.