Police: Fake officer tried to pull over off-duty Youngstown cop

NORTH KINGSVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Authorities in far northeast Ohio say a man pretending to be a police officer was caught and charged because the driver targeted by his bogus traffic stop was a real officer.

Police in North Kingsville say an off-duty Youngstown officer was stopped Sunday night by the alleged impersonator, who was driving a black sport utility vehicle with red and blue emergency-style lights.

Village police Chief Hugh Flanigan tells The Star-Beacon in nearby Ashtabula that the unarmed man in civilian clothes repeatedly tried to convince the Youngstown officer that he was a real lawman but eventually drove away.

Flanigan says the Youngstown officer contacted village police, who found the suspect within minutes. A prosecutor says the 42-year-old North Kingsville man faces a misdemeanor charge of impersonating an officer.