ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., June 4 (UPI) -- This may not have been a particularly "bright" move...

A Florida man has been charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer after he allegedly posed as a cop and activated emergency lights that he had on his vehicle in an attempt to pull over a real detective.


Matthew McMahon, who also was charged with unlawfully displaying blue lights, allegedly attempted to stop an officer from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office while the detective was driving an unmarked police vehicle.

Detective Justin "Chance" Anderson was driving on International Golf Parkway on Monday when McMahon allegedly 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 told FCN.

Anderson then pulled McMahon over and asked him about the emergency lights.

"I was shocked to, number one, 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."

McMahon was arrested and booked into the St. Johns County Detention Facility on $5,500 bond.