A Washington convicted felon is accused of impersonating a police officer when he arrived at varied emergency calls and authorities found he had a “great amount of police gear.”
Michael Scaletta-Teates responded to an energetic police scene in Bremerton, Wash. on Sept. 5, the place he wore a darkish uniform with a tactical vest that showcased a metallic Edmonds Police Division badge and “police” and “SWAT” patches, in accordance with the Bremerton Police Division.
“I believed you have been like considered one of our detectives at first,” a Bremerton Police officer advised Scaletta-Teates, police physique digicam footage obtained by KOMO confirmed.
“I do know a number of the guys with the duty drive,” Scaletta-Teates advised the officers throughout his arrest.
Scaletta-Teates responded to a trespassing name and a tip a couple of potential hearth in a parking storage, in accordance with the outlet.
Police shortly discovered that Scaletta-Teates, who drove an unmarked Ford Explorer with “activated blue lights,” didn’t have the in depth resume he claimed.
Scaletta-Teates claimed he moonlighted part-time as a safety guard and was an officer with the Edmonds Police Division in Edmonds, Wash., roughly 35 miles away from Bremerton.
The felon launched himself to the officers as “Mezzy Scaletta” and failed to supply his police fee card, an identification card given to regulation enforcement.
Officers referred to as the Edmonds Police Division and found the employees didn’t know Scaletta-Teates and claimed that he was “by no means” on their payroll.
“Can we not do that in entrance of every- I imply, actually?” Scaletta-Teates requested whereas being handcuffed and brought into custody.
Police on the scene seemed contained in the home windows of the suspect’s truck and seen that he could have been able to impersonate different respectable jobs as effectively.
“He’s acquired a firefighter helmet too, he’s able to do all of it,” the cop quipped.
In keeping with the bodycam footage, Scaletta-Teates advised officers that he had retired from Baltimore Police after twenty years and acquired a job in Washington.
The alleged officer impersonator was booked into the Kitsap County Jail and accused of 1st diploma legal impersonation and illegal possession of a firearm.
In January 2016, Scaletta-Teates was discovered responsible of creating a bomb menace throughout an incident in North Carolina, in accordance with the Kitsap Solar. He served 185 days in jail.
Regardless of his felony, he labored as safety for the Salvation Military earlier than his arrest and he allegedly wasn’t simple to be round.
“He was intimidating final night time,” an individual on the shelter advised KOMO Information. “He advised a few my pals to close up and maintain strolling.”
Scaletta-Teates was filmed in a separate incident responding to an emergency police name at a 7-Eleven and allegedly advised prospects that he was a cop,” in accordance with the outlet.
