2 Youths Are Suspected of Posing as Police

El Monte police have arrested two teenagers who they say impersonated police officers and pulled over at least two motorists while sounding a siren and flashing emergency lights they had purchased on EBay.

The investigation was triggered when a motorist called police on July 28 to report that a person who had pulled him over appeared to be too young to be a police officer.

A similar incident was reported by residents who live near Zamora Park in El Monte, which led to the arrest of a 15-year-old from La Puente. On Monday, a second youth, a 17-year-old from El Monte, was also arrested.

A search of the 15-year-old’s home uncovered police uniforms and baseball caps with the word “police” on them. The uniforms were purchased from uniform shops in the San Gabriel Valley. Police said the youths added police-style emergency lights that they had purchased over the Internet to a white, two-door sedan. Both suspects have no prior criminal record, and no other individuals were involved in the crimes, El Monte police Det. Ralph Batres said.

Both youths were charged with impersonating a peace officer and were released into the custody of their parents, Batres said. He said the probe is continuing, and police are searching for other motorists who may have encountered the pair.