Flashing blue lights in the rearview mirror usually mean trouble. For one 18-year-old driver on Simpson Road, deputies say the real problem was that the man pulling him over was not a cop at all.
A Kissimmee man was arrested after deputies say he used flashing lights and a badge to stop the teen driver earlier this week. According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, a Chevy SUV blocked traffic, activated blue lights, and the driver approached, identified himself as an officer, and spoke with the teen, but did not show a weapon. Deputies say the encounter shifted to a nearby parking lot before the suspect drove off and was later tracked down. He now faces charges that include impersonating a police officer and false imprisonment.
According to FOX 35 Orlando, the incident happened about 6:30 p.m. Thursday near Buenaventura Boulevard and Osceola Parkway. Deputies identified the suspect as 59-year-old Carlos Barros-Villahermosa and say the SUV was equipped with blue lights and a siren. Officials say Barros-Villahermosa was located and arrested Saturday, and anyone who thinks they may have been stopped by him is urged to contact the sheriff’s office.
Charges and penalties
Under Florida law, falsely personating a law enforcement officer is a felony. The Florida Legislature makes it a third-degree felony to pretend to be a police officer, and the offense can be elevated if it happens while committing another crime. The false imprisonment count reported in this case is defined in the Florida Senate statutes as a separate crime, which also generally carries felony penalties that can increase with aggravating circumstances.
A prior federal indictment with the same name
A 2014 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida states that Carlos Barros-Villahermosa was indicted in Puerto Rico on charges of impersonating a federal officer and making false statements. The Department of Justice listed that man’s age as 47 at the time, which would make him about 59 now, matching the age deputies released this week. Public records do not immediately confirm whether the two incidents involve the same person. The earlier federal case also involved allegations that the suspect represented himself as a government officer during a traffic stop.
How to spot an impostor and stay safe
Impersonators sometimes outfit civilian vehicles with lights and sirens, which can make a fake traffic stop feel legitimate. Local reporting has repeatedly urged drivers to be cautious when something about a stop feels off. ClickOrlando recommends motorists slow down, turn on their hazard lights, and, if they feel unsafe, continue to a well-lit public place while calling 911 so dispatchers can verify the stop. Drivers can also ask an officer to show departmental ID and wait for a clearly marked patrol car to arrive if they are still unsure…