Road Rage, Cop Impersonation Lead To Arrest

CAPITOLA - A 22-year-old Santa Cruz man was arrested Tuesday after he impersonated a police officer during a road rage incident and tried to handcuff another driver at a stop sign.

The Santa Cruz Sentinel says Gregory Calasopa became angry when a vehicle in front of him did not pull into traffic fast enough near Capitola Road.

“Apparently both vehicles were cutting through town in an effort to avoid the highway,” Payne told the paper. “Tensions were running high.”

The Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office Facebook site says Calasopa got out of his car, identified himself as a police officer and tried to handcuff the victim near Maciel Avenue. Authorities say the victim drove away and called 911.

A County deputy located Calasopa and his vehicle nearby where he was arrested. Inside his vehicle, deputies found handcuffs that may have been used in the incident.

Calasopa was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.

-images via Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office