Police have arrested a suspect they call the "Blue Light Bandit," who is accused of impersonating a law enforcement officer and attempting to pull over drivers in North Carolina. According to police, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol received two reports of a suspicious person in Rutherford County on February 27 and 28 who was using blue lights to try and stop drivers along U.S. 74.
On Thursday (March 11), police served a warrant for the arrest of 52-year-old James Douglas Miller, of Charlotte. Miller is facing a felony charge of impersonation of a law enforcement officer and placed on a $25,000 secured bond.
According to WBTB, unmarked highway patrol cars should sound their sirens along with flashing blue lights when pulling a driver over. The North Carolina Department of Transportation encourages drivers to not pull over until they hear a siren from the supposed police vehicle. Additionally, drivers can call *HP to confirm that they are being pulled over by a state trooper.
"The North Carolina State Highway Patrol takes these cases very seriously," the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. "The dangerous and reckless acts of impersonation erode the trust and confidence the public must have in their law enforcement officers for them to be able to provide the services needed."
Photo: Rutherford County Sheriff's Office