ST. JOHNSBURY — An arrest has been made in connection with a false traffic stop that took place in St. Johnsbury back on Christmas of 2015.
Police say that after an investigation, Obadiah Croteau, 19, of Burlington, was issued a criminal citation to appear in Caledonia Criminal Court, to answer a charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
The incident took place on December 25, 2015, on U.S. Route 5. Police say Croteau was driving a rental vehicle and flashed his high beams as well as his amber emergency flashers to get the victim, an 18-year-old man from St. Johnsbury, to stop.
The victim advised police that someone wearing camouflage had approached his vehicle wearing a gun and told him he was speeding and to slow down.
Police say that their investigation identified Croteau as the one who initiated the false traffic stop, and that he was located in Bennington last week.
Police have not said if there is any connection with this incident, and a similar one that took place in St. Johnsbury in January, when a woman was falsely pulled over.
Police are reminding the public that Law Enforcement Officers in Vermont have blue lights and clear strobes on their vehicles.
A statement issued by police reads:
“If you suspect that you are being stopped by someone other than Law Enforcement, you are encouraged to call 911 and verify that an actual Law Enforcement Officer is stopping you, or in the event that you cannot call, you are encouraged to safely drive your vehicle to the nearest Police Department or State Police Barracks for further assistance.”
This is why all cop cars should be labeled clearly. Time to remove the unmarked cop cars. Its becoming to high of a risk to the public.