A Fort Collins man has been arrested for impersonating a police officer, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.

According to a post on the agency's Facebook page, the case started on January 28 when a man reported that a red Toyota 4runner had driven up behind him and activated red, white and blue emergency lights and a siren. The motorist didn't stop because he was suspicious that the vehicle was not being driven by a real law enforcement officer.

When the driver refused to stop, the 4runner followed him for a while and then turned around and drove away.

101.9 KING-FM logo
Get our free mobile app

Deputies Tracked Down The Suspect Vehicle Following Report

The motorist reported the incident to the sheriff's office, giving deputies a detailed description of the 4runner. Investigators were able to track down the vehicle west of Fort Collins and identified its owner as 43-year-old Hugh Clark of Fort Collins. According to the post, a search of the car turned up radios, handcuffs and clothing with law enforcement insignias.

Clark was hit with the following charges:

• Impersonating a Peace Officer, which is a class 5 felony
• Knowingly Possessed a Vehicle Equipped with a Red or Blue Light (Traffic Offense)
He was bonded out of jail on a $3,500 personal recognizance bond.
Investigators suspect Clark has done this before. Anyone who has been stopped by him or has other information on the case is being asked to call Deputy Travis Martin at 970-498-5530.
The post offers the following advice if you encounter someone you think might be impersonating law enforcement:
Trust your instincts. If you aren’t sure if the other vehicle is law enforcement, listen to your gut and take steps to verify.
• Call 911. Dispatchers can check area units to see if a deputy or officer is conducting a traffic stop.
• Turn on your hazard lights and slow down. This indicates that you’re aware of the other driver’s presence. It can also draw the attention of other travelers or bystanders.
• Stop in a well-lit, public area.
• Ask to see a badge, official identification, or a business card.
• If you’re worried about your safety, tell the Dispatcher and follow their guidance.
• Take note of as many details as possible about the person and their vehicle.
The most common cases of someone pretending to be a police officer in southeast Wyoming and northern Colorado tend to be phone scammers threatening people with arrest for phony fines, which is extremely common.
But reports of fake cops pulling over people have happened in the Fort Collins area before.

Meet the Four-Legged Heroes of the Cheyenne Police Department

They may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but make no bones about it, police dogs play a vital role in the fight against crime.

In many situations, they're the first ones to put their lives on the line to protect their human partners, proving that not all heroes wear capes, some wear fur coats.

Gallery Credit: Joy Greenwald

More From 101.9 KING-FM