2 suspected of impersonating officers while trying to pull over off-duty policeman in H.B.

Two people were arrested early Tuesday in Huntington Beach on suspicion of impersonating police officers and attempting to pull over a person who happened to be an off-duty police sergeant, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Armando Raul Hernandez-Perez of Aliso Viejo and April Noemi Lopez-Fabian of Laguna Hills are suspected of conspiracy and impersonating a peace officer, according to authorities. They were booked into Orange County Jail in Santa Ana with bail set at $20,000 each.

According to the CHP, Hernandez-Perez, 26, was driving north on the 405 Freeway in a Ford Crown Victoria with Lopez-Fabian, 20, in the passenger’s seat around 12:30 a.m. when they tried to stop the off-duty officer’s car just before the Euclid Street exit.

The two first flashed a red-and-blue strobe flashlight through their windshield and then, when the sergeant did not yield, activated a forward-facing spotlight, authorities said.

The Crown Victoria then accelerated to a high speed and passed the sergeant, who followed the vehicle and called 911, according to the Highway Patrol.

CHP officers located and arrested the suspects as they were exiting the northbound 405 at Beach Boulevard, police said.

Replica firearms were found in the car, authorities said.

The CHP is encouraging any victims of similar acts to call (714) 892-4426.