Man charged with impersonating officer after joining police convoy while disqualified and armed

The non-police vehicle slid into a convoy of patrol cars outside Kawakawa Police Station with flashing red and blue lights. Photo / Supplied

A disqualified driver has been charged after his Commodore with flashing red and blue lights slid into a convoy of patrol vehicles outside a Northland police station.

Mid/Far North Area Prevention Manager Senior Sergeant Clem Armstrong said the copycat slid into a police convoy outside Kawakawa Police Station last Thursday evening.

“After catching the officer’s attention, a check confirmed the registered owner of the vehicle was disqualified from driving.

“The real police officers signalled the Commodore to pull over.”

Armstrong said that after the man was arrested, a search of his vehicle uncovered a loaded firearm underneath the driver’s seat as well as a 3D-printed gun, a stash of ammunition and methamphetamine.

“It was quite the unexpected find,” Armstrong said.

“Our team is extremely pleased to be able to remove these items from our community and hold this offender to account.”

The 30-year-old will appear in the Kaikohe District Court on January 20 on charges including personating a police officer, unlawful possession of a restricted weapon, driving while disqualified and possession of methamphetamine.

It comes on the same week that police revealed they had caught a drunk man who tried to pull over an unmarked car of actual police officers.

Counties Manukau Police said the “bizarre incident” occurred while officers were conducting patrols in an unmarked vehicle in the area on Saturday.

A station wagon following the unmarked car began flashing a red-and-blue bar mounted on the vehicle.

Police said officers were “perplexed” before clocking the car as not an actual officer.

The real officers managed to pull over the man after he attempted to flee, who they said exhibited “impaired and dangerous driving”, coming in at twice the legal limit.

The 38-year-old man will appear in the Manukau District Court on December 24 on charges of impersonating a police officer and excess breath alcohol.