David Williams

WTLV- and WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, Fla.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A 20-year-old is behind bars, accused of impersonating a police officer after he tried to pull over a sheriff's detective with red and blue lights on his car.

A St. Johns County Sheriff's Office detective in an unmarked car spotted Matthew Michael Lee McMahon, 20, of St. Augustine on Monday evening as they were driving on International Golf Parkway in this city about 40 miles south of Jacksonville, Fla. When Detective Chance Anderson passed McMahon, the officer said McMahon activated a red and blue light bar on his 1999 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.

"I pulled over to confront the individual at which point he pulled up next to me. Kind of gave me the 'slow down' look and pointed this finger at me," Anderson said.

The detective pulled over on the shoulder of the road and McMahon drove away. So Anderson pursued and pulled over McMahon.

"I was shocked to, No. 1, see somebody affecting a traffic stop on me," Anderson said. "We are a rather large department, but I still know a majority of our law enforcement officers."

Detectives continued the investigation and determined McMahon never had been a certified law enforcement officer. McMahon was arrested Tuesday.

Anderson's work includes catching police impersonators, but he said no fake cop ever has pulled him over.

In addition to impersonating an officer, a felony, McMahon has been charged with unlawfully displaying blue lights. He was released later Tuesday from the St. Johns County Detention Facility on bonds totaling $5,500; his next court date has not been scheduled.