INDIANAPOLIS — A Pendleton man is facing charges for impersonating a police officer — and this isn't his first time allegedly doing this.
Jonathan Becker, 24, was arrested for an active warrant of unlawfully carrying a gun. He was also arrested on separate charges for unlawful carrying a gun and impersonation of a police officer.
On Friday, Oct. 25, an Indiana Crime Gun Task Force detective was alerted of Becker and his active warrant in Hancock County. Just after noon, investigators found a white pickup truck registered to Becker in a construction zone in the 1300 block of East Washington Street, near Southeastern Avenue, on Indy's near east side.
IMPD said the truck had emergency lights activated, similar to those on police vehicles. Becker was then allegedly seen entering and exiting the pickup truck "multiple times" to stop traffic. Police said he was wearing a reflective shirt and had a radio and gun strapped on his belt. He was then taken into custody, and his pickup truck was towed.
Becker is currently under indictment for impersonation of a public servant back in September 2023. He 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.
Police said Becker has had several cars that he modified to look like Indiana State Police vehicles and, according to a probable cause affidavit, was seen driving these vehicles by law enforcement as early as 2019.
Police also believe Becker mimicked a law enforcement vehicle and joined the procession for fallen Elwood Police Ofc. Noah Shahnavaz in August 2022.