Police say a New Mexico man pretended to be a police officer and is facing a misdemeanor charge after he pulled over a real Albuquerque Police Department detective.
According to police, the 42-year-old turned on his strobe lights on his white Chevy Tahoe in an attempt to stop an undercover officer.
But Tyree Appleberry said he was not impersonating an officer and was instead asking the driver why he was in the parking lot next to an auto auction yard where his friend works.
“At no time did I say I was a cop, did I pretend to be a cop, did I badge anybody. At no time did that happen,” Appleberry told KOB 4.
Authorities say Appleberry had a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear in court for a reckless driving charge.
A spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department told the news station that the arresting officer made the choice to charge Appleberry with a misdemeanor instead of a more serious felony charge.
