Police: Virginia Man Impersonated Officer, Tried To Pull Over Driver On Beltway

A Virginia man allegedly impersonated a police officer and attempted to conduct a traffic stop Sunday night on Interstate 695, Maryland State Police said.

Timothy Ervin Trivett, 54, of Yorktown, was arrested at the scene and charged with impersonating a police officer and multiple handgun charges. He was the driver and sole occupant of a Chevy Impala.

Police imposter vehicle. Belongs to 54 year old Timothy Trivett of Yorktown Virginia. Arrested Saturday by State Police. He wore a dark blue uniform, body armor. Gun belt. Two hand guns ammo , pepper spray, cuffs. pic.twitter.com/BlfPf5MyxV — David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) June 17, 2019

Just before 8:30 p.m. Sunday night, a state trooper saw the Impala with blue and white flashing lights attempting to pull over a gray Honda Accord on the outer loop at Greenspring Avenue. The trooper pulled behind the Impala and then made contact with the driver, later identified as Trivett.

"Our trooper followed him until he pulled onto the shoulder and it appeared that he was trying to make a traffic stop," Maryland State Police spokeswoman Elena Russo said.

According to charging documents, Trivett was dressed in a dark-blue uniform with patches on the sleeves, an exterior vest with a badge that had "Special Officer" on it and a black nylon gun belt. Police said the gun belt carried three pepper spray containers, an expandable baton, two sets of handcuffs, a knife and two handguns. Police said they found 20 rounds of ammunition on Trivett.

"Anybody with a loaded handgun I would believe to be dangerous, particularly if you are a motorist getting pulled over by somebody who is possibly trying to look like a police officer," Russo said.

State police said Trivett's uniform was that of a security guard, but he had neither a carry permit nor a security guard license.

Police said Trivett told the trooper that he had activated the lights in his car because someone was tailgating him. Police said Trivett told the trooper that he was not trying to pull the car over.

Trivett was processed at the Golden Ring Barrack and taken to the Baltimore County Detention Center, where he was later released on an unsecured bond. His next court date is set for Aug. 21.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-780-2700. Anyone who believes they are being pulled over by a fake officer should call 911 to verify the traffic stop.

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WBAL-TV 11's David Collins contributed to this report.