INDIANAPOLIS — Police say a 23-year-old man impersonated a police officer last month.
Jonathan Becker allegedly used his car equipped with what appeared to be emergency lights to pull over an IMPD sergeant driving an unmarked car. That sergeant allegedly followed and confronted Becker after he drove away and stopped at a construction site.
"There was so much on the car that looked like a police car that if you didn't know any better, you would think it was a police car," IMPD Lt. Shane Foley said. "In this situation, he used what would be perceived as emergency lights to take action and detain someone who, unfortunately, in this case, was a real police officer."
The probable cause affidavit shows the car, a white Ford Explorer, was equipped with a light bar attached to the roof. Inside, police say they noticed a radar gun and a laptop mounted to the center console. They also allegedly found body armor and magazines for a Glock handgun inside. Court records show Becker told officers he was on probation, so he wasn't carrying his gun.
The probable cause affidavit shows Becker was on formal probation for Unlawful Display of Emergency Lights on a Vehicle in Hancock County for an incident last year. He works for Indiana Traffic Operations, a legitimate traffic control company.
Police say Becker has had several cars that he modified to look like Indiana State Police vehicles and, according to the probable cause affidavit, was seen driving these vehicles by law enforcement as early as 2019.
"From what I understand in the case, there was nothing independently illegal that he had on the car," Foley said. "The combination of all those things and the extent to which he made the vehicle look like a police car was extremely concerning to us."
Police also believe Becker mimicked a law enforcement vehicle and joined the procession for fallen Elwood Police Ofc. Noah Shahnavaz in August of last year.
"When somebody goes to that length to make people believe they're the police to the extent they're going into a funeral procession, almost as a police officer, it's concerning to us," Foley said. "Moreso concerning is we don't know if there are other victims that this individual or other individuals have taken advantage of."
Police say to reach out to them if you think you are a victim.
Becker is currently in Marion County Jail facing a felony charge of impersonation of a public servant.