Man impersonated officer, pulled over driver on I-17: DPS
Arizona man allegedly impersonated officer on I-17
A man was arrested on Interstate 17 after allegedly using a gray truck with lights to perform a fake traffic stop, and police say unmarked vehicles can make it hard for drivers to separate impostors from real officers. FOX 10's Megan Spector reports.
PHOENIX - A man accused of impersonating an officer has been arrested after he pulled over a driver on the highway and called for backup, and DPS officials worry this may not have been his first unlawful traffic stop.
What we know:
Investigators say 60-year-old Scott Millage used a gray pickup truck equipped with red and blue flashing lights to impersonate an officer Thursday morning and pull over a Tesla on I-17 near Dove Valley Road for speeding. The driver pulled over, believing it was a real police unit. That is when court paperwork says Millage actually called to request backup.
When real troopers arrived and realized Millage was not in law enforcement, they arrested him.
"It is for allegedly two counts of kidnapping, a class four felony, one count of impersonating a police officer, a class six felony, and two counts of unlawful imprisonment, also a class 6 felony," a court official stated during an initial appearance for Millage.
Dig deeper:
The driver and passenger stated Millage demanded their TSMC badges, and took pictures and videos of their work ID cards. Records show Millage also works at TSMC.
Police say unmarked vehicles can make it hard for drivers to separate real officers from impostors.
"There's a lot of undercover units that operate in our area, and they are supposed to look like regular cars, that's the whole premise," retired Chandler Police Officer Josh Logan said.
What you can do:
Logan says there are specific steps you can take if you ever question whether an unmarked vehicle is legitimate.
"If you get by what you believe to be not a law enforcement officer, turn your hazards on, slow down, pull over, keep your doors locked. Call 911 immediately, Logan said. "I always tell people trust your instincts. If it doesn't look right, feel right, it probably isn't.
DPS says a 911 dispatcher will be able to confirm if any official unit is conducting a stop.
What's next:
As for Millage, with his extensive criminal history, he is now held on a $25,000 bond.
"The court does note the fact that you do have an extensive criminal history. At least 9 alleged felony priors including one for the same or similar offense that you are charged with today," the court official stated. "The court views your actions as extreme safety concerns to the community."
What you can do:
DPS fears Millage may have targeted other drivers. Anyone who believes they were pulled over by him or his truck is asked to call 1-877-4 AZ-TIPS.
Scott Millage (MCSO)
Map of where the incident happened:
The Source: Information and photos for this story were gathered from a Sept. 17 news release by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Millage's mugshot was provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.